War, Inc. (2008)

Director:

Joshua Seftel

Writers (WGA):

Mark Leyner (written by) &
Jeremy Pikser (written by) ...

Release Date:

28 August 2008 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When it comes to war...America means business

Plot:

A political satire set in Turaqistan, a country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former US Vice-President (Aykroyd)...

Cast

John Cusack	...	Brand Hauser
Joan Cusack	...	Marsha Dillon
Marisa Tomei	...	Natalie Hegalhuzen
Hilary Duff	...	Yonica Babyyeah
Ben Kingsley	...	Walken
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Aykroyd	...	The Vice President
Ned Bellamy	...	Zubleh / Ooq-Yu-Fay Taqnufmini
Velizar Binev	...	German Businessman
Shirly Brener	...	Hauser's Wife
Marc Casabani	...	Various (voice)
Ben Cross	...	Medusa Hair
Doug Dearth	...	Geoff
Itai Diakov	...	Boy
Georgi Gatzov	...	Soundman
Nick Harvey	...	Preacher
Lyubomir Neikov	...	Omar
Rachel O'Meara	...	Implanted Reporter
Velislav Pavlov	...	Video guy #2
Bashar Rahal	...	Video Guy #1
Joost Scholte	...	Cashier
Stanimir Stamatov	...	Posse guy
Sergej Trifunovic	...	Ooq-Mi-Fay Taqnufmini
Montel Williams	...	GuideStar
George Zlatarev	...	Director

Also Known As:

Brand Hauser: Stuff Happens (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief sexual material.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Boyana Film, Sofia, Bulgaria

Company:

New Crime Productions

Trivia:

John Cusack first became interested in making the film when he read Naomi Klein's 2004 article "Baghdad Year Zero".

Quotes:

Natalie Hegalhuzen: You know that all my writings have called this occupation a violation of international law and its practitioners are criminals?
Brand Hauser: Do you really believe all this stuff you write?
Natalie Hegalhuzen: Anyone who can causes this much mayhem when they didn't have to? The amount of suffering that I've seen?
Brand Hauser: I know.
[helicoper flies overhead]
Brand Hauser: [speaking on the phone] Ok. Hold on a sec.
[speaking to Natalie again]
Brand Hauser: But the way I look at it is this: the day we can actually feel and hear all the suffering of mankind, that's the day when "The Christ" will come back! So we got that going for us.
[speaking on the phone again]
Brand Hauser: I'll be out in a minute.
[...]

Critics might be off the mark on this one...

I thought this movie was a lot better than most movie critics are giving it credit for. Though it has its confusing parts of the plot, it doesn't greatly interfere with your understanding of the movie. That being said, If you're not open to more liberal political ideas, then this probably isn't the movie for you. I thought all the actors in the movie were outstanding. Each character has their funny moments and the audience at the Tribeca Film Festival was laughing throughout the whole thing. I thought the satire was a tad over the top in one particular area, but that's intentionally done. John Cusack is right in that although it's set in the future, it really makes you see the present.