WAR DOGS

US, 2016, 114 minutes, Colour.
Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Kevin Pollock, Ana De Armes, Bradley Cooper.
Directed by Todd Phillips.

The Dogs of War is a phrase used to describe combat hardship, difficulties, heroism. War Dogs is not the same thing and, in this case, definitely not the same thing.

The story is told from the point of view of David, Miles Teller doing a variation on his raunchy comedy routines but, basically, a more seriously decent type. At this stage, 2005, he is something of a pothead, trying to sell quality sheets to homes for the elderly (where the managers think that quality is useless for their clientele), then doing male massages in hotel, and in a relationship with an attractive partner, iz, who is pregnant.

At a funeral, he meets an old school friend, Efraim, Jonah Hill doing a bossy and scheming variation on his raunchy comedy routines. He has been getting arms from the police in California and selling them on eBay. Now, in Florida, he intends to expand and invites David along to be an associate, 70-30.

So much for entrepreneurial twentysomethings. But, this is a true story which takes us more than a bit beyond belief.

Efraim is rather shrewd in the sense that he doesn’t go for huge contracts but rather deals with “crumbs” and amasses quite an income. But, he becomes ambitious, entering into a contract with an officer in Iraq to supply him with Italian Beretta weaponry – but, in serious comic style, Efraim has to use his wits and David his diplomacy with the officer because Italy has introduced legislation against this kind of sale of arms, Efraim thinks they should be delivered to Jordan, the two men go over to Jordan, deal with local smugglers, drive into Iraq, are pursued by bandits but finally deliver their goods – and get a reputation with American military procurement officials.

Emboldened, they go off to a weapons exhibition in Las Vegas, encounter a famous arms dealer (played by Bradley Cooper who produced the film) and decide to go for broke with his encouragement, an enormous contract for the military.

They are able to fake their papers and accounts, and are surprised to get the contract – which seems to go off well, with visits to Albania and more dodgy deals, then dodgy deals, which brings the situation to a climax and a crisis.

The plot is interesting as one looks at American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan at the time, the huge contracts and movement of arms, remembering the exploitation by various American companies in Iraq, but this picture of two young men becoming involved in arms sales while having no moral stance about rights or wrongs of the war, has reminded audiences of the comic expose of the entrepreneurs, young, prior to the global financial crisis, The Big Short.

Efraim becomes more and more a dislikeable character, foul-mouthed and unprincipled, while David is the one who has his conscience challenged.

In Snowden, Oliver Stone’s film about the man who leaked information, the background of his work for the CIA takes place at the same time as the action in War Dogs, even with some comment about the profligacy of military procurement. Into that setting of American management and mismanagement, War Dogs finds its place.

1. Based on a true story? The Bush era, arms and procurement, the military, fraud?

2. Miami, the sets, offices, massage work in hotels, selling sheets in homes for the elderly, high-rise accommodation, affluence?

3. The contrast with Albania (filmed in Romania), Jordan, Iraq, filming in Morocco? Las Vegas? The musical score, the songs and the mood?

4. The title, dogs of war, pro-war, anti-war, being neutral, involvement in arms deals, for the money, the consequences?

5. The captions throughout the film and their being used in the dialogue?

6. David’s story, his point of view, his perspective on himself, on the work, the ultimate judgement, his arrest, the interview and the offer of money at the end? Ambiguous?

7. David, his age, his self-image, young, pot smoking, selling the sheets, buying them in bulk, the failure of the enterprise? His relationship with Iz? Her pregnancy? The massages, the clients and their behaviour? The funeral, seeing Efraim?

8. His memories of Efraim, at high school, friends? The story about stealing $70,000 from the dinner visitor?

9. Efraim, age, character, his deals, buying arms and selling them on eBay, transition to Miami, his philosophy of life, money and greed, employing David, employing the staff and the pep talk – and ousting the man who contradicted him? Crumbs and small deals? David, agreeing, lying to Iz, the pregnancy test, the work at home?

10. The Bereta deal, from Italy, the US official in Iraq, the plans, the Italian legislation and the change of plan, David on the phone, Efraim on the phone and his smart moves, transferring the guns to Jordan, their visiting Jordan, the young interpreter and the smugglers, the journey, David and his fear, their being pursued by armed men, the American helicopter trucks, the smuggler pouring petrol into the truck, arrival in Baghdad, successful in producing the guns, getting an escort back to the plane, their success?

11. Growing reputation, the deals, going to the exhibition in Las Vegas? David meeting Henry Girard, the former phone calls?

12. The new deal, the offer, thinking it over, the huge order, from the American government? The submission, manufacturing figures, forging accounts? Waiting five months? Getting the okay?

13. The deal, the Russian bullets in Albania, David going, the driver, only checking one box? The plan? The news that the bullets were Chinese? The return? Henry and his anger, abducting David and pointing the gun? Repacking all the bullets, lighter, removing the crates, the iron boxes, plastic and cardboard boxes? The fee, 100,000 dollars? Success?

14. David making a contract with Efraim for 30%? Efraim destroying it, his motives, out to get Henry Girard? His lies? And forgetting to pay the Albanians?

15. Iz, the improvement in their status, the big apartment, the birth of the child, David and his love for the baby, the decision to go to her mother’s? Finding the hidden money?

16. David coming home, confronting Efraim, the loss of the contract, throwing the gold grenade? The confrontation, David and his anger, returning to massages, Iz accepting this?

17. The character of Ralph, friend, Jewish, the deals, making the money? His offer to mediate between David and Efraim? Efraim’s offer, David refusing, the irony that Ralph was wired and the playback to the FBI?

18. The phone call from the journalists, David confronting Efraim in the lift, the punch, the FBI waiting?

19. The explanations, Efraim and his four-year sentence, David pleading guilty, home arrest? With his family?

20. The epilogue, Henry Girard, offering the case of money, David wondering about the fate of the driver and his disappearance? The ambiguity of whether he took the money or not?