War, Inc. (2008)

Director:

Joshua Seftel

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

4 September 2008 (Israel)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Thriller | War

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...

Plot Keywords:

Corporation | Reporter | Assassin | Pop Star | Satire

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Cusack	...	Brand Hauser
Hilary Duff	...	Yonica Babyyeah
Marisa Tomei	...	Natalie Hegalhuzen
Joan Cusack	...	Marsha Dillon
Dan Aykroyd	...	Mr. Vice President
Sergej Trifunovic	...	Ooq-Mi-Fay Taqnufmini
Ned Bellamy	...	Ooq-Yu-Fay Taqnufmini / Zubleh
John McLaughlin	...	Himself
Montel Williams	...	GuideStar Voice (voice)
Ben Kingsley	...	Walken / The Viceroy
Lyubomir Neikov	...	Omar Sharif (as Lubomir Neikov)
Nikolay Stanoev	...	Bhodi Bhundhang (as Nikolai Stanoev)
George Zlatarev	...	Director
Bashar Rahal	...	Video Guy #1
Velislav Pavlov	...	Video Guy #2 (as Vesilav Pavlov)
Zahary Baharov	...	Video Guy #3 (as Zahari Baharov)
Doug Dearth	...	Geoff
Ben Cross	...	Medusa Hair
Mark Roper	...	Choreographer
Andrey Slabakov	...	Cameraman (as Andrei Slabakov)
Joost Scholte	...	Cashier
Velizar Binev	...	German Businessman
Davorka Tovilo	...	German Woman
James Graves	...	Tamerlane Guard
Troy Rowland	...	Tamerlane Wedding Guard
Rachel O'Meara	...	Implanted Reporter
Nick Harvey	...	Interfaith Clergyman
Itai Diakov	...	Kid In Fallaf (as Itai Djakov)
Stanimir Stamatov	...	Posse Guy
Georgi Gatzov	...	Sound Man (as Georgi Gatsov)
Mark Johnson	...	Tamerlane Staple-Gun Guard
Krassimir Simeonov	...	Tamerlane Guard #1 (as Krasi Simeonov)
Velizar Peev	...	Thug (as Zarko Peev)
Shirly Brener	...	Hauser's Wife
Katerina Grableva	...	Hauser's Child
Sergio Buenrostro	...	Tamerlane Airport Guard
Alex Brown	...	Tamerlane Airport Guard #2
Attia Hosni Attia	...	Arabic Waiter
Ivo Kehayov	...	Dry Cleaning Soldier Posse (as Ivaio Kehajov)
Teodor Tsolov	...	Cab Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Cusack	...	Tamerlane Caffeinated Soldier (as William Cusack)

Directed by
Joshua Seftel

Writing credits (WGA)
Mark Leyner		(written by) &
Jeremy Pikser		(written by) &
John Cusack		(written by)

Produced by
John Cusack	....	producer
Vic David	....	line producer: nyc
Doug Dearth	....	co-producer
Danny Lerner	....	producer
Grace Loh	....	producer
Mark Roper	....	associate producer
Les Weldon	....	producer
Katsuhiko Yoshida	....	co-producer

Original Music by
David Robbins

Cinematography by
Zoran Popovic

Film Editing by
Michael Berenbaum

Casting by
Marianne Stanicheva
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
Miljen Kreka Kljakovic

Art Direction by
Branimir Babic

Costume Design by
Vicki Graef

Makeup Department
Tatyana 'Tita' Sleptsova	....	personal makeup artist: Ms. Marisa Tomei
Denise Wynbrandt	....	personal hair stylist
Denise Wynbrandt	....	personal makeup artist

Production Management
Veselin Karadjov	....	production manager
Joseph Lobato	....	post-production manager
Alexander Peytchev	....	unit production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doug Dearth	....	second unit director
Petya Evtimova	....	second assistant director
Alexander Kossev	....	third assistant director
Peter Mechkoff	....	first assistant director: Bulgaria
Mark Roper	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Borislav Belberov	....	stand-by props
Dirk Buchmann	....	property master
Maria Doicheva	....	painter
Andrey Filchev	....	stand-by props
Martin Genchev	....	carpenter
Branka Gligorova	....	art department assistant
Anna Hadzhieva	....	art department coordinator
Alexei Karagyaur	....	graphic designer
Georgi Kodzhabashiyski	....	painter
Jasen Kovachev	....	set dresser
Axel Nicolet	....	construction manager
Sonya Savova	....	draftsperson
Eleonora Slavkova	....	painter
Rosen Stefanov	....	assistant set decorator
Arta Tozzi	....	art department assistant
Zhivko Zhelyazkov	....	storyboard artist
Evgeni Yordanov	....	carpenter foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joshua Adeniji	....	foley editor
Randy Babajtis	....	sound effects editor
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer
Scott Cannizzaro	....	adr engineer
Dhyana Carlton-Tims	....	dialogue editor
Robert Dehn	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Dehn	....	sound studio manager
Jason Dotts	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jason Gaya	....	assistant sound editor
Brennan Gerle	....	foley editor
Judah Getz	....	adr mixer
Judah Getz	....	foley mixer
Jerry Gilbert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Hinkley	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vladimir Kaloyanov	....	sound mixer
Richard Kitting	....	sound recordist
Shawn London	....	sound effects editor
Valery Metodiev	....	boom operator
Jonathan Miller	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Morgado	....	adr mixer
Stuart Provine	....	sound effects editor
Dean Treloar	....	sound editor
Anthony Viera	....	additional sound mixer
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Ivo Jivkov	....	special effects supervisor
Stefan Razlojki	....	armourer
Marten Ruskov	....	special effects crew
Yana Stoyanova	....	special effects artist

Visual Effects by
Nikolay Agopyan	....	digital effects artist
Ivaylo Andonov	....	digital artist
Javor Asenov	....	visual effects
Simeon Asenov	....	visual effects art director
Luba Atanasova	....	colorist
Luba Atanasova	....	video colorist
Svilen Aynadzhiev	....	digital compositor
Angelina Borisowa	....	visual effect assistant editor
Lawles Bourque	....	visual effects compositor
Maria Boyuklieva	....	digital compositor
Rachel Clement	....	digital cleanup artist
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Yasen Denev	....	digital matte painter
Yasen Denev	....	illustrator
Paounka Dimitrova	....	digital artist
Paounka Dimitrova	....	visual effects
Konstantin Dimitrov	....	digital compositor
Stoycho Dimitrov	....	digital compositor
Stoycho Dimitrov	....	digital effects artist
Georgi Gavanozov	....	CGI lead animator
Veselina Georgieva	....	visual effects supervisor
Kiril Georgiev	....	visual effects coordinator
Dobromir Hristov	....	digital compositor
Albena Ivanova	....	digital compositor
Angel Ivanov	....	digital effects artist
Ivan Ivanov	....	digital artist
Velichko Ivanov	....	lead artist
Milen Jiliazkov	....	digital effects artist
Ivet Jordanova	....	visual effects artist
Peter Keranov	....	digital compositor
Momchil Kirov	....	digital artist
Momchil Koev	....	visual effects compositor
Nikolay Kolev	....	digital artist
Kalin Krumov	....	digital compositor
Dennis Little	....	DI producer
Nikolay Mihailov	....	digital compositor
Diana Moneva	....	digital artist
Nikolay Peev	....	digital artist
Iskra Petkova	....	digital artist
Diana Simeonova	....	matchmove artist
Georgi Staikov	....	visual effects
Atanas Stankov	....	visual effects
Boyan Stoyanov	....	animator
Milan Stoyanov	....	digital compositor
Stefan Tchakarov	....	visual effects production supervisor
Peter Tomov	....	visual effects lead artist
Arturo Lopez Uscanga	....	scanning manager
Desislava Valcheva	....	digital compositor
Alexander Valev	....	digital compositor
Silvia Vasileva	....	animator
Slavov Yanko	....	matchmove artist
Vladimir Zdravkov	....	visual effects systems administrator
Petko Zhivkov	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Boyan Anev	....	stunts
Lee Charles	....	stunts
Georgi Dimitrov	....	stunt rigger
Ivailo Dimitrov	....	stunt double
Ivailo Dimitrov	....	stunts
Dian Hristov	....	stunt coordinator
Radoslav Ignatov	....	stunts
Danko Jordanov	....	stunts
Georgi Manchev	....	stunt performer
Trayan Milenov-Troy	....	stunts
Radoslav Parvanov	....	stunts
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Elitsa Rajeva	....	stunt double
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunts
Georgi Stanislavov	....	stunts
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunts
Teodor Tsolov	....	stunts
Benny Urquidez	....	fight coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Hristo Aleksandrov	....	assistant camera
Mihail Apostolov	....	key grip
Martin Balkanski	....	second assistant camera
Bruce Jones	....	additional electrician: second unit
Tsvetan Kostov	....	grip
Alexander Krumov	....	camera operator: second unit
Neven Mihailova	....	camera operator: "c" camera, main unit
Georgi Petkov	....	grip
Radoslav Petkov	....	video assist
Brian Pryzpek	....	gaffer
Shimon Sabbah	....	grip
Devon Schwab	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Lorenzo Senatore	....	Steadicam operator
Lorenzo Senatore	....	camera operator
Venelin Stepanov	....	grip
Emil Topuzov	....	director of photography: second unit
Ivan Vatzov	....	second assistant camera
Simon Versano	....	still photographer
Mihail Yanakiev	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Yavor Zahariev	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Yesi Ramirez	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Desislava Andonova	....	costumer
Nancy Ceo	....	assistant costume designer
Ina Damianova	....	costume supervisor
Ani Gelinova	....	key costumer
Jasmina Vasileva-Stoichkova	....	costumer: Mr. Cusack (as Jasmina Vasileva)

Editorial Department
Julius Friede	....	digital intermediate colorist
David Graubard	....	digital intermediate senior systems engineer
Sharon Smith Holley	....	first assistant editor
Candice Levy	....	post-production coordinator
Dennis Little	....	digital intermediate producer
Jon Pehlke	....	on-line editor
Faust Pierfederici	....	digital preview colorist
Sarah Priestnall	....	production supervisor: digital intermediate
Chris Ward	....	digital intermediate producer
Todor G. Todorov	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Selena Arizanovic	....	music coordinator
Ashley Miller	....	music supervisor
Steven A. Saltzman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Kalin Nikolov	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Prince Bagdasarian	....	film and high definition coordinator
Valentin Dimitrov	....	location manager
Claude Forest	....	insurance broker
Gabriel Georgiev	....	location manager
Eric Green	....	marketing and publicity
Todd Korody	....	systems engineer
Alan J. Lam	....	production controller
Kevin Lawn	....	coordinator: New Crime Productions
Aurelie Levy	....	assistant: John Cusack
Joan Mao	....	assistant: Mr. Davidson
Petia Petrova	....	assistant production office coordinator
Violeta Piperevska	....	production coordinator
Troy Rowland	....	consultant
Sam Sako	....	adr loop group
Sandy Schklair	....	script supervisor
Shelly Stoyanova	....	script supervisor: second unit
Roman Viaris-de-Lesegno	....	vice president finance
Dana Wilkey	....	product placement

Thanks
Pamela Anderson	....	thanks
Jeff Gordon	....	thanks
Hulk Hogan	....	thanks
Mr. T	....	thanks
Jim Nabors	....	thanks
William Shatner	....	thanks
Donald Trump	....	thanks
Henry Winkler	....	thanks

Production Companies

• New Crime Productions
• B & W Films
• Boyana Film Studios
• Millenium
• Millennium Films
• Nu Image Entertainment GmbH

Distributors

• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Top Film (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2008) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Moonlight Films (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• SP Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• All Interactive Distribution (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Eagle Films (2008) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• First Look International (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ledafilms (2008) (Mexico) (TV)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Odeon (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• VVS Films (2008) (Canada) (all media)

Special Effects

• Worldwide FX

Other Companies

• Hollywood Intermediate  digital intermediate services
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility

Also Known As:

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

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief sexual material.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hungarian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #43117) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | UK:15 | Hungary:16 | France:U

Filming Locations:

New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria

Company:

New Crime Productions

Trivia:

The An-12B airplane shown at the beginning and end of the movie is owned and operated by Bright Aviation Services, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Along with some other Bulgarian freight carriers, they are banned from operating in Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and the European Union countries because of their safety record.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Brand Hauser exits the building-ruins after rescuing Natalie Hegalhuzen you can clearly see him putting away one of the two pistols, namingly his right one, and waving with his left arm. The very next shot shows him putting away both pistols, his right, then his left.

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.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-05-24)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Bossa Now

A Libertarian's take on a war satire

In this satire of the commercialization and 'lightheartedness' of war, John Cusack plays Brand Hauser, an assassin sent to to 'Turaqistan' to take out Omar Sharif, who is doing some oil business that will spell trouble for the former Vice President of the US's own company. In addition to this, Hauser must juggle his fake position as a trade show producer, a wedding for pop princess Yonica (Hillary Duff), and a nosy Liberal journalist, Natalie (Marisa Tomei).

Assessing the technical aspects:

- The acting (by the main characters,at least) was good, as was to be expected. Some of John Cusack's dialogue was quite obviously not written for him as he often seemed uncomfortable saying it. . . maybe unrealistic is more accurate. Joan put forth a great, and often hilarious, performance. Marisa Tomei, while I've never been a big fan of hers, was more than suitable for the role and worked well. Hillary Duff, however, was pretty terrible. They needed an attractive Middle Eastern (or Russian, or whatever that accent was supposed to be) pop-star. Unfortunately, they went 0 for 3 with her.

- Like I said above, the writing seemed a little stiff and mismatched at points, especially John Cusack's dialogue. Not much of it, mind, but some. The story also got a bit ludicrous at points, which is fine for a satire to a point, but it took it to a whole new level here. Luckily, the Cusacks and Tomei keep a relatively cool, calm demeanor throughout, and that makes a nice even mix of the craziness of the film and the levelheadedness of the actors.

- Joshua Seftel, who previously had a drought of real credits to his name, did a fine job with a rather wide-spectrum film. He handled the small ($10 million) budget very well, stretching it to make it appear to be much more. Seftel also managed to nicely blend the humour of the story. . . with the painful and hard-to-watch parts of the real war (including slaughter of civilians, etc.).

- As far as the general satire goes, its exaggerated look on the commercializing of war is very well done, especially the 'Golden Palace Poker' ads on the U.S. tanks. At points, it becomes a little too much, but, in the end, it still accurate portrays what it's going for an a young 'Mel Brooks'-type of style.

Overall, the film is very well made for the meager budget and it's definitely worthy of a look. It won't go down as one of the great satires of cinema, but it's certainly not the worst.

7/10.