Has anyone heard about this movie called War, Inc? (1 Viewer)

[Nicholas Vargo]

Stars:
John Cusack
Marisa Tomei
Joan Cusack
Sir Ben Kingsley
Hilary Duff
Dan Aykroyd

Synopsis:
Set in the future, when the desert country of Turagistan is torn by a riot after a private corporation, owned by the former US president, has taken over the whole state. Brand Hauser (John Cusack) is a hit man who suppresses his emotions by gobbling down on hot sauce and is hired by the corporation's head to kill the CEO of their competitors. Everything changes when the ruthless killer finds himself head-over-heels in love with a sexy reporter.

Looks like Grosse Pointe Blank meets Lord of War meets Wag the Dog.

And it also looks really funny.

And it also looks like Hilary Duff will shed her family film image once and for all.


Plays in NY & LA May 23. Hopefully expands after that. Here's the links to the trailers:

The original trailer:
YouTube - War, Inc. Trailer High Quality

The official trailer:
YouTube - War, Inc. - Trailer

 

[Brian D H]

This looks really funny. I'm always up for a good satire - especially one that hits close to home.

Count me in.

 

[Shane D]

i read the dvd comes out in the first of july.

i was reading a wiki article on it and my thought was, why didnt they just do gross pointe blank 2

 

[Claire Panke]

This IS Gross Pointe Blank 2

 

[Nicholas Vargo]

Bumping this thread to say that I have finally seen the film. Here is my review courtesy of my MySpace blog (Apologies if too much is revealed as well as the profanity too):

War, Inc. - ***1/2
Directed by Joshua Seftel

War, Inc. is really Dr. Strangelove for the 21st Century. A story of war and the commercialism that it brings. The scenario, which basically mixes Strangelove with John Cusack's own Grosse Pointe Blank is a biting satire/screwball comedy that not only has its tongue firmly in cheak, but also manages to be a cautionary tale about what could be happening in our future (maybe even now too).

In the film, Cusack plays Brand Hauser, a burned out CIA hitman who after finishing a job in Canada is already onto his latest assignment: Head to Turaquistan to terminate a dictator named Omar Sharif, who wants to build piping under the streets, which the former vice president (Dan Aykroyd) will not have. Hauser's cover will be the role as a trade show producer for Tamerlane, the former vice president's company, who will set up the wedding of Asian popstar Yonnica Babyyeah (Hilary Duff) with the help of an assistant/operative named Marsha Dillon (Joan Cusack). As he gets there, he thinks that this will just be a routine job, that is until reporter Natalie Hagelhuzen (Marisa Tomei) comes into the story. The combination of Natalie and Yonnica are beginning to drive him insane. It also doesn't help that he has become burned out, not to mention that something he did many years ago is about to catch up with him.

In many ways, this film is really a sequel to Grosse Pointe Blank in both style and substance. Instead of taking pot shots at the hitman business though, Cusack and his co-writers are aiming really high at the profitization of war. Everything you see in the country of Turaquistan is created entirely for profit, and as a result, it is a front for bombings and abductions all around. As the film progresses, the less safe the country becomes.

I would also like to mention the backstory, which involves Hauser's old boss Walker (Sir Ben Kingsley), who puts on quite a good show as the man who knows better than to let him go. As Hauser tells him, he has found the woman of his dreams and the last thing he wants to do is put her in the middle of his current profession. It plays out quite well that its somewhat unexpected appearance in its finale is quite an interesting one to watch.

And then there's the performances. What a cast! John Cusack is an absolute delight, always giving the best deadpan reactions to almost every line he either delivers or reacts to. It's an exceptionally awesome performace. Hilary Duff, I might also add, finally gives the performace of her career as the Asian popstar who just wants to show that she has a heart inside her herself and that there is more to her than just the fans who "like her ass." What makes her performace convincing is the fact that she puts on quite a good Russian accent for the part. As a result, you might not even notice that its her. About the weirdest thing I watched in this film is her dropping a scorpion inside her pants. Crazy, but insane. The same goes for her songs, including the aptly titled "I Want to Blow You...Up!" Talk about classic.

Speaking of classic, the same can just about be said for Joan Cusack, who nearly steals the whole movie out of her brother's hands with an amazing performace filled with uproariously funny lines. She's got two of them (profanity is in one of them):

"My communications degree is finally paying off."

"And may i just add personally sir, what the fuck are you doing?! Will you kill the motherfucker already so we can get out of this shithole!"

And Tomei and Sir Kingsley both do well in their roles as well, and although they are not quite as strong as the Cusacks and Duff, they are still a lot of fun to watch. And then there's Aykroyd, getting a couple of choice moments in what is essentially an extended cameo. And as Hauser's automated talking device GuideStar (which sounds a lot like John Cusack himself) is actually talk show host Montell Williams, and he manages to steal the show with a number of choice lines like "I told you that Falluvah was a no go zone."

If there are any complaints I have with the movie, there is just one, and it is that I wish the film was even more biting than it already is. Sure, the film is very biting as it is, but it never hits the same level as Wag The Dog, which is the true Dr. Strangelove of the 20th century, which is a shame, but considering that this century hasn't made the definitive equal of that film yet (not counting Lord of War, which doesn't even comes close to this film's level of satire and absurdity), this is closest thing will have to it for probably quite some time.

But the real reason why I loved this movie is a really because War, Inc. is so grounded in reality, that the beleivability becomes much higher. In other words, the possibility of something like this happening (or even happening right now) is highly possible. Everything in the movie seems like it could really happen in real life. Even take for example a ride that Tamerlane has created that simulates the experience of being in a battle. Even something like this seems wholly possible (although in this movie, it's also very funny).

I guarantee now that War, Inc. will not be everybody's cup of tea. You have to love satire in order to really get this one, but even by judging the mixed response to this movie, even those who love satires might even be put off by it too for one reason or another. But even if you hate the film, it has to be admitted that you would have to applaud the filmmakers for taking such an ambitious attempt to make a biting satire. Satire is not easy to pull off, but when done well (and I think it was done well), it can be enjoyed on it own merits.

It's not quite the funniest comedy I've seen this year, but it's biting and it's wonderful and it says something about what is happening now, as well as what might happen in the future. War, Inc. is a biting satire that's uproarious, and Cusack, his co-writers and first time director Joshua Seftel deserve huge applause for their efforts. An absolute must-see!

Rated R, 107 minutes. Now playing at very select theatres.
It will be availible on DVD from First Look Home Entertainment on October 14th.