‘War’ offensively amusing

“Lord of War” is a black comedy that provides a running commentary of

bitter satire over scenes of horrific violence.

Remini- scent of “Catch 22” or “Three Kings,” it gallops across

the screen, daring the viewer to be offended and amused at the same

time. The screenplay explores several actual conflicts of our time

supported by a fictional arms dealer who is a composite of several

real people.

Nicolas Cage is right on point as Yuri Orlov, the amoral arms

dealer who will sell his AK-47s to anyone who will meet his price.

His business takes him to all the world’s hot spots where political

madness and civil war rule. The Middle East, the disintegrating

Soviet Union, Bosnia and the sad nations of Western Africa all figure

prominently in his multi-million-dollar bottom line.

All his money is made off the suffering powerless masses in these

lands.

In counterpoint to the torment of so many, we see the luxurious

life Orlov carves out for himself among New York’s elite. His trophy

wife, a model, is unaware of his blood-spattered trade.

He has a few twinges of conscience as he witnesses the disgusting

product of his trade.

Disturbingly funny in a wicked way, this film reveals much that we

need to know, but don’t want to see.

* JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator

for the Orange County public defender’s office.

Thumbs down for ‘Thumbsucker’

The movie “Thumbsucker” is an indie film that tries to be geek

chic like the cult hit “Napoleon Dynamite.” But its pacing is slow,

and the sporadic humor makes it seem slower.

Justin is a lonely, insecure 17-year-old who still sucks his

thumb. He wants to quit, but whenever something upsets him, he starts

up again. And at 17, there is always plenty to be upset about.

His family doesn’t help much. He must call his parents Mark and

Audrey (Vincent D’Onofrio and Tilda Swinton) because it makes Mark

feel old to hear the words “mom” and “dad.”

Audrey has a fixation on TV star Matt Schramm (Benjamin Bratt) and

enters a contest to win a date with him. Mark prefers work to having

any real interaction with his family.

Nothing seems to help get Justin off the thumb -- not Mark’s

nagging, or even the psychobabble from his orthodontist Perry (a

hilarious Keanu Reeves)

But when Justin is put on Ritalin, he finds willpower and

confidence -- maybe he’s not such a geek after all. Alas, success is

short-lived. His prowess on the debate team quickly dissolves into

obnoxious arrogance, and his teacher (Vince Vaughn) kicks him out.

Justin then trades the Ritalin for pot, but an encounter with

Schramm outside a rehab clinic makes him realize that we’re all just

scared little animals, and he resolves to get a life, thumb sucking

and all.

The performances are interesting, especially newcomer Lou Pucci as

Justin. Nevertheless, you’d be better off waiting for this one to

come out on cable.

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.

‘Just Like Heaven’ more like purgatory

The Corrs have seemingly found the elusive state most of us think

of as paradise. But how perfect can it be when the girl you’re in

love with is dead and doesn’t know it? Or isn’t dead, but doesn’t

know the first thing about who she is?

Perhaps it’s a typical case of denial, or an idiosyncratic state

of ecstasy. Either way, this scenario isn’t the average self-imposed

conflict.

As an overachieving, by-the-book champion of the medical

profession, Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) has no life, nor does she

have someone to come home to after those 26-hour shifts she takes to

prove her dedication. As she gets off work one day to go meet her

sister and a blind date, she is the victim of a fatal accident. She

returns later as a spirit, inhabiting the home she always knew as her

own, yet not knowing why.

Meanwhile, David (Mark Ruffalo) -- a young widow who tragically

lost his wife -- is in the process of relocating, hoping to find a

home with the perfect couch and a place to relieve his memories of

agony.

As fate would have it, the paths of these two lost souls cross.

Perhaps this film is truly worthy of tears. It’s easy to lose

yourself, especially if you’re accustomed to emotional

self-expression. In hindsight, the movie was at times sad, but it was

not the overall dominating factor.

Although predictable in some instances, the script did not lack in

flavor or laughter.

Jon Heder, so often associated with his role in “Napoleon

Dynamite,” does not disappoint, and the situations the characters get

themselves into are in no way realistic but are appealing

nonetheless.

Hollywood needs to change it up a bit. This film was a breath of

fresh air, but there has yet to come a film whose presence demands

the public’s full attention.

* SARA SALAM is a student at Corona del Mar High School.