Directed by:
Todd PhillipsCinematography:
Lawrence SherComposer:
Cliff MartinezCast:
Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Ana de Armas, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Pollak, Shaun Toub, JB Blanc, Patrick St. Esprit, Gabriel Spahiu, Andrei Finti, Ashley Spillers (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Based on a true story, "Arms & the Dudes" follows two friends in their early 20s (Hill and Teller) living in Miami during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a $300 million deal to arm the Afghan Military—a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government. (Warner Bros. UK)
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Reviews (9)
The film is reflecting the time it was made in and carries in a similar vein like Pain and Gain or The Wolf of Wall Street. There is action, there is drama, some American themes, they drop in a joke here and there and overall, the camera is pretty good, so it doesn’t let you get bored for even a minute and at the same time you are fully aware of the fact that you are not watching a cheap blockbuster, but rather a very good and effective American drama. The duo Miles Teller and Jonah Hill are a great fit in this one. While I have rather liked Miles as a person since the beginning of his career, I’m still not there with Jonah. But both of them have heavenly acting skills and the whole thing is under the patronage of Bradley Cooper, who has over the years evolved into the producer of this kind of films and into an actor who often plays supporting but important characters. He was once again flawless. Just a glimpse of him and every scene had a stamp of quality that significantly improved the whole film.
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If I were to run a percentage analysis of all the important formal elements, it would look something like this: originality: 20%; screenplay: 70%; direction: 70%; actors: 60%; soundtrack: 120%, and you can easily guess the result. You can still watch it with the same glee with which a hirsute bum looks at a leftover sandwich in a trash can, and some of the scenes are downright schmaltzy (the Kalashnikov test to the accompaniment of “Wish You Were Here”, for example), but this film should have been made fifteen years ago so as not to give the overpowering impression that all its key ingredients have already been used many times elsewhere. Despite the great criticism of the global arms industry and the war business, War Dogs is, first and foremost, just another film about the steep rise and subsequent fall of two ambitious young men, whose relationship is not analysed in much detail and is more or less for effect; unlike Lord of War, which was much more tightly focused and, after all, more formally interesting. Strong three stars should do.
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Jonah Hill is pretty fat in this one, but he's also pretty good. Miles isn't bad, but Jonah stands out. The story is interesting, among other things, because it actually happened. But it also shows what is possible in today's world. The question arises: is it even worth wanting so much money at any cost, or would simply being a masseur be enough?
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I can do these movies. Miles Teller is slowly but surely building his career and Jonah Hill is already a star on the comedy scene and here he more or less pulls the whole film off. I find movies based on real events that happened recently far more appealing than movies based on reality from the distant past. The humour goes slightly sideways, I laughed the most at Hill's odd laugh, but the film keeps a decent pace, something is constantly happening, trouble is afoot and it ends dramatically. In truth, I was even slightly envious. A good and entertaining film. 80%.
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I am no longer surprised that Todd Phillips made Joker in the style of a Scorsese film, because he already has a similar take on War Dogs, and I have no problem imagining Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci playing the leads instead of Miles Teller and Jonah Hill in some other universe. It’s a fine film. Nothing groundbreaking, but fine.
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