True-story action movie offers new perspecive

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Cailin O'Mara, Managing Editor

“War Dogs” takes an original stance on the war on terror and illuminates the lives of those who participate in one of America’s most taboo professions: arms dealing. The plot line follows the lives of David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), two American arms dealers who began receiving arms contracts from the United States military in 2005.

The story chronicles the ordinary lives of the two friends, and their rapid ascent into wealth and cupidity. Director Todd Phillips artfully combines action scenes with heartfelt personal moments in a way that is reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street.” Viewers are left with the distinct impression that the illusion of wealth distorts reality until personal relationships are destroyed and morality is compromised.

I commend the movie for breaking the boundaries of American conception of the war on terror. The story shows the extraordinary financial power that America exerted on the war, with the men’s biggest contract totalling $300 million. It also depicts how American global relations were compromised by the use of interventionist means, ultimately depicting a negative image of American involvement in the war.

Overall, the movie is a worthwhile watch simply because it offers a unique perspective on an event the American public has been largely unexposed to.