War Dogs

War Dogs is a 2016 American biographical crime comedy-drama film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Phillips and Jason Smilovic. The film is based on the true story of David Packouz, a young massage therapist, and Efraim Diveroli, a young arms dealer, who formed a company called AEY Inc. and won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. The film begins in 2004, with David Packouz (played by Miles Teller), a 22-year-old massage therapist, living a comfortable life in South Florida. David is in a long-term relationship with Iz (played by Ana de Armas) and shares an apartment with three other guys. He is content with his life but feels unfulfilled by his job as a massage therapist. Iz, on the other hand, is a nurse and is studying to become a doctor. The two are in love and want to start a family. One day, David's friend Efraim Diveroli (played by Jonah Hill), a young and charismatic arms dealer, shows up at David's apartment. Efraim has a brother, Ilan (played by Ben Schwartz), who is a jokester and a wannabe hip-hop star. Efraim has made a fortune by selling small arms and ammunition to various countries, including Afghanistan. He convinces David to join him in his business venture, and at first, David is hesitant. However, Efraim's charm and enthusiasm eventually win him over. David and Efraim form a company called AEY Inc. and start to buy surplus military equipment from the former Yugoslavia. They also hire a few employees, including Bradley (played by Brandon Short), a laid-back and marijuana-smoking recruiter. As the company grows, so does their ambition. They start to supply small arms and ammunition to the US military in Afghanistan, and they win a $300 million contract from the Pentagon. The contract is a windfall for David and Efraim, but it also exposes them to the darker side of the arms trade. They are required to supply millions of rounds of ammunition to the military, but they don't have the resources or infrastructure to fulfill the contract. Efraim, who is more experienced in the arms trade, takes the lead in navigating the complexities of the contract, while David is more concerned with the logistics and operations of the company. As the contract deadline approaches, David and Efraim's relationships with their employees and their suppliers start to fray. Bradley, who has become increasingly paranoid, is worried about the potential risks of working in the arms trade. Ilan, who has always been a bit of a loose cannon, starts to make reckless decisions that put the company in danger. Meanwhile, the Pentagon, which has been paying little attention to AEY Inc. until now, starts to scrutinize the company's practices. David, who has always been the more serious and responsible of the two partners, starts to lose faith in Efraim's leadership. He is concerned that Efraim's obsession with the money and the contract is clouding his judgment and putting the company at risk. As tensions between the two partners rise, David starts to question whether he made a mistake by joining Efraim in this business venture. The film's tone shifts in the final act, from a comedy-drama to a darker drama. The consequences of David and Efraim's actions start to catch up with them, and they are forced to confront the reality of the arms trade. In a dramatic and intense scene, the US government freezes AEY's assets and takes over the company. David is left to pick up the pieces and deal with the aftermath of the scandal. In the end, David's character is transformed by his experiences in the arms trade. He realizes that he was too naive about the world and the consequences of his actions. He breaks up with Iz, who is understandably frightened by the prospect of raising a family with someone who has been involved in such shady dealings. As the credits roll, David is seen walking away from the wreckage of his life, determined to rebuild and move forward. The film ends on a note of ambiguity, leaving the audience to wonder about David's future and whether he will ever find redemption. Will he be able to shake off the guilt and shame of his involvement in the arms trade, or will he be forever changed by his experiences? The ending is intentionally bleak and unsettling, a fitting conclusion to a film that has been both comedic and disturbing throughout.