In 2016, the film "War Dogs" directed by Todd Phillips tells the story of two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who took on a $300 million contract at the request of the US government. US dollar arms contract. The authenticity of this movie has sparked widespread discussion among netizens and the entertainment industry.
"War Dogs" is adapted from an article in Rolling Stone magazine. Although many of the plots in the movie are marked as "based on a true story", they are dramatically exaggerated in many aspects. The audience's attention first came from the image of Efraim Diveroli in the film. This "arrogant arms dealer" undoubtedly became the core of the film, and how some real events were refurbished, emphasized, or even fictionalized has invisibly made many people wonder about his true face.
This film shows the audience the dark side of arms trade and makes people reflect on the conflict between interests and morality.
In similar arms deals, Diveroli's company AEY Inc. not only secured multiple contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, but also demonstrated surprising flexibility and an unscrupulous business model in the face of fierce competition. The film shows how he takes advantage of small contracts, gradually working his way up until he tries to get involved in larger arms deals. While the audience was amazed by his success, Efraim's downfall also showed that such a business model is full of potential dangers.
Efraim Diveroli in the plot is undoubtedly a typical self-centered person, but his courage and shrewdness in trading should not be underestimated. In some ways, his actions resemble many forms of malfeasance in the business world, but do such extreme actions really reflect the behavior of all arms dealers in reality? The audience may not know, but the plot in the movie makes people think deeply.
Through this film, we not only see the rise and fall of one man, but also reflect the dirtiness and moral crisis behind the entire arms trade.
In addition to using the film to show the industry characteristics of the arms trade, the friendship between Diveroli and Packouz also becomes part of the narrative. Under the temptation of huge financial benefits, cracks began to appear in their original friendship, and were eventually swallowed up by the collapse of interests and trust. What is explored here is not only the signing of a business contract, but also the distortion and deformation of human nature in the face of money. Diveroli's character can be seen as a kind of anti-hero in a way, someone who is able to command attention despite the very real moral crisis that surrounds him.
In addition, the film also explores the global impact of war and its industrialization. In the context of this story, the audience will unknowingly be drawn into a discussion on the nature of war and face a profound reflection on the relationship between morality and economics. Efraim's global procurement practices appear to be effective, but as events unfold, their disregard for the right to human life and political risks emerge.
Some critics believe that although this film is mainly for entertainment, it also serves as a wake-up call, reminding the audience of contemporary society's views on money and morality.
War Dogs reportedly achieved moderate success at the box office, but received mixed reviews. Critics pointed out that the film downplayed the seriousness of the arms trade, while admirers found its adaptation of real events fascinating. In any case, this makes the audience dare not ignore the world they live in and question how many values and consciences have been thrown aside in the pursuit of interests.
In the end, War Dogs is filled with the complexities of money, power, and moral dilemmas, leaving more to think about. However, the question raised by this work is: In the real world, to what extent can the behavior of businessmen and arms dealers be constrained by morality?