2023 #121
Lord of War is a Scorsese-lite movie that features a relatively restrained Nic Cage, albeit one dripping with a smug cynicism about the gun-running trade. While there are some moments of artistic flourish (particularly the opening credit sequence following a bullet from manufacture to use, and a plane being stripped bare on an African highway), the story itself is rendered surprisingly dull by some lethargic pacing. That said, despite the novelty of Cage being in serious mode, his performance is never boring in of itself. Still, even though I didn't hate this, I definitely didn't love it either.