--- title: "Lord of War: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/lord-of-war/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/lord-of-war" critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Lord of War (2005): what the critics said Critics' score 57 from 14 reviews: 4 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews are mixed, with praise clustering around Nicolas Cage’s morally unsettling performance, the inventive opening credits and the film’s willingness to confront the arms trade. The sequence following a bullet from manufacture to destination draws approval even from critics who find the rest less persuasive. Supporters see a pointed, entertaining black comedy, while several less enthusiastic reviews still credit its visual flair and disturbing detail about the weapons business. The divide is wide over whether that forcefulness makes for convincing drama. Reservations centre on uneven tone, an overloaded story and a central character whose appeal can undermine the condemnation of his trade. The AV Club regards the film’s account of powerful countries’ complicity as clear-eyed and forceful; Slant Magazine sees hypocrisy in its treatment of Yuri. The Independent’s objections extend to the portrayal of Africa, which it finds stereotyped and opportunistic. ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2005. Phipps finds the film a bracing, forceful political entertainment that leaves a lasting impression. He especially praises its opening credits and its clear-eyed argument about the complicity of powerful countries in the arms trade. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/lord-of-war-1798201121) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 14 October 2005. The review calls the film a compelling, rewatchable blend of purpose and plot, despite a slightly less exciting second half. It particularly praises Nicolas Cage’s charismatic, morally unsettling performance as Yuri Orlov. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/lord-of-war-review/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2005. The critic treats the film as an entertaining, pointed satire of the arms trade. He singles out its sharp satirical premise, while finding its execution less fully successful. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/movies/guns-are-evil-everybody-should-have-one.html) ## Time Out — CT Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2005. The available text gives a positive impression of the film’s opening, but does not reveal the review’s overall verdict. It singles out the sensational sequence tracing a bullet’s journey from factory to destination. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/lord-of-war) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2005. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable here. The critic’s verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/lord-of-war/4024436.article) ## Radio Times — Sloan Freer Rating 3/5. The review calls the film a sleek, confrontational black comedy that takes a cynical swipe at the arms trade. It praises the film’s precise execution and its forceful condemnation of those who profit from weapons. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-me02cr/lord-of-war/) ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2005. Koehler finds the film ambitious and politically daring, but says its uneven tone and overloaded story weaken its impact. He praises Nicolas Cage’s performance and the film’s energetic handling of its international subject. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/lord-of-war-1200523480/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Newman finds the film thoughtful and impressive but ultimately more like an illustrated lecture than an involving crime story. He praises the performances, striking opening sequence and pertinent information about the arms trade, while faulting its lack of excitement and an unappealing central character. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lord-war-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2005. Turan finds the film forceful in its subject matter but ultimately hampered by an unconvincing, dramatically weak story. He praises its visual flair and the disturbing factual detail it reveals about the arms trade. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-sep-16-et-lord16-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 1.5/4. 29 August 2005. Schager judges the film a misfiring, hypocritical critique that glamorizes its arms-dealing protagonist while condemning him. He singles out Yuri’s shallow characterization and the film’s weak moral argument as central flaws. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/lord-of-war/) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2005. French finds the film morally serious and often funny, but ultimately unconvincing and lacking social and political complexity. He praises its striking opening sequence tracing a bullet’s journey and Nicolas Cage’s performance. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/oct/16/features.review3) ## The Independent — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2005. Romney judges the film a lost opportunity, weighed down by self-importance and laborious storytelling. He especially faults its stereotyped, opportunistic portrayal of Africa and its overblown visual metaphors. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/lord-of-war-15-320304.html) ## Eye for Film — John Gallagher Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2005. Gallagher finds the film hard not to like and compares it favorably to Traffic, but funnier. He singles out its inventive opening, which follows a bullet from manufacture to its victim. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/lord-of-war-film-review-by-john-gallagher) ## Den of Geek — Mark Pickavance Rating 3/5. 6 November 2008. Pickavance likes the film and its serious message, though he says it is not Cage’s best work. He praises the supporting cast, while criticizing the Blu-ray’s grainy presentation and autoplay promotions. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/lord-of-war-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/lord-of-war.md