War Dogs, based on article by Guy Lawson - 8.3 out of 10

War Dogs, based on article by Guy Lawson
8.3 out of 10


Although War Dogs has received very different, mixed reviews, it is a very entertaining movie.

It is based on the real story of two young men, David Packouz aka Milles Teller and Efraim Diveroli aka wonderful Jonah Hill, nominated for a Golden Globe for this role.
Of special interest for this viewer is the fact that Romanian actors play the Albanians that provide bullets and drama at one stage in the film.

David Packouz is struggling at the beginning and in some other periods depicted in the feature, trying various jobs, including massage therapist and eventually hoping to break in business, selling premium sheets for old people's homes.
When he meets again with his old friend Efraim, the opportunity to extract himself from the financial hole is grabbed with both hands.

The fact that this means becoming an arms dealer presents a problem and he doesn't tell his wife, for they are both anti war.
Efraim is very smart, if immoral and ultimately a scoundrel and crook.

He teaches his new partner the tricks and they look for contracts from the US Army.
If the big, multi billion deals are done with the big fish, there are also plenty of smaller ones where the two protagonists can try to win.
One crucial moment is the one when the pistols they are supposed to provide in Iraq are confiscated in Jordan.

The two partners fly to Amman, bribe and pay some middle man and then drive in a truck with Marlboro, a local driver, through the Death Triangle, some of the most dangerous places on earth at that time and presumably in the present as well.
David doesn't know how dangerous the plan was.

But then, there are so many things that his dishonest associate does and would do and he is not aware of.
The nadir would be reached when they have a contract of three hundred million dollars, to provide ammunition for the American allies in Afghanistan.

Efraim decides to cut the intermediary, Henry Girard aka Bradley Cooper, from his own deal.
This would bring the one who opposed this stupid move, David close to death by shooting.

The fact that I have learned about Miles Teller and his difficult manner has had some impact on the pleasure of watching this film, but War Dogs is nonetheless good entertainment.