War Dogs (I guess, current political relevance?)

Sugar_Rush

My go-to film theme is typically……….. "the hustle".

• Casino
• High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
• The Hustler (go figure)
• The Colour Of Money
• Hard Eight

i.e. historical "hustle films" revolve around gambling.

I had watched a flick called "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage some time ago and despite the primary theme being weapons/arms import/export, it wasn't as blatantly explicit about being a shameless hustle as "War Dogs", where the latter basically pulls no punches on the topic.

So yeah whilst "War Dogs" primary theme is again weapons shipping, it explores "the hustle" impetus and lifestyle quite well (though in typical Hollywood fashion).

"The Hustle", living the fast-and-loose lifestyle that it facilitates, quick, easy, big money for relatively little/straight-forward work……… and of course how it's a "selling your soul" trade, how greed and the "fast and loose" component can get the better of its adherents when left unchecked/unregulated.

It also has a highly relevant secondary (arguably) theme, in that in the practical sense, it is set at least partly in the eastern block and focuses on the economics of conflict, the military industrial complex, which of course is what we're seeing in Ukraine currently.

Sugar_Rush

Just a few questions for those informed:

This website, "federal business opportunities" or fedbizopps, is this legitimate?

As in, that part of the film is factual, that anyone can basically make bids on government weapons contracts?

Secondly, how the lead character procures the weapons, initially he delivers handguns from Italy. As I understand he makes that purchase by way of investment from his "silent partner" (the laundry owner).

But a US citizen can just buy large quantities of weapons from manufacturers in foreign countries and ship them into a war zone?

And thirdly (apparently this story is factual), the actual "gun running" part, they fly into a adjacent country and smuggle the guns into Iraq.

It seems a little far fetched though not implausible.

Sugar_Rush

In "Lord of War", the weapons were procured from a relative of the main character, so that makes sense.

Then he hustles/"runs" the guns and weapons around the globe using illicit transport and licensure.

Just in "War Dogs", assuming this "FedBizOpp" website is a real thing, the procurement process isn't as obvious?

Anyone have insights here?

Sugar_Rush

Gotta say, I also like both flicks are so up front and direct about the actual nature of weapons smuggling.

"To do business with people and places the US government can't do business with directly".

i.e. they NEED those hustlers on the side, "because sometimes it's embarrassing to have their finger prints on the guns".