Is the Movie War Dogs Based on a True Story?

By Eliud Alano July 19, 2024 06:13

Photo By Jessica Brajer

The 2016 film War Dogs captivated audiences with its intense depiction of two guys on the inside track of arms dealing. Well, to what extent is this gripping tale based on truth? This is an in-depth breakdown of the actual events behind the movie, how true it stayed to reality and its portrayal of the arms dealing industry.

The Real 'War Dogs': The Unbelievable True Story

It is based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won $300 million from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. Their daring passage from Miami to China and, further off the beaten track, Eastern Europe and tumultuous Afghanistan sounded unbelievable, but their story was more incredible still than what made it into the film.

Key Characters and Events

Efraim Diveroli embodied gun fun, draped in opulence and provocative swagger. This unrelenting desire and ambition led him to make a fortune at such a young age, which would ultimately entangle him in higher-stakes international arms contracts. His partner, David Packouz, was instrumental in the true-life tale of contracts and working within the complications of the arms dealing industry.

However, the film does take some creative liberties with certain characters and events. In this case, it merged Packouz with Podrizki and changed some of the roles others played. While the movie took the essence of the true story, some factual details were changed in the fictional film adaptation for dramaturgical purposes.

Assessing the Authenticity of The Film

Accuracy of Portrayal

The sheer thrills and experience of a film like this are undeniable, but the way it purports to depict the arms dealing industry, as well as global trade in weapons more broadly, is something we need to examine from a reality perspective. The film demonstrated that the industry was high stakes, but it still took some liberties to increase dramatic tension. As such, the factual tale of Diveroli and Packouz's mercurial scheme has been viewed through a complex aggregate lens as described in multiple outlets.

What Drives and Moves Them

If the movie is to be believed, Efraim Diveroli was a man with similar ambitions who pushed himself desperately for success and ended up caught in a web of deception and big money. But the real story shows his multifaceted character, the demons he fought, and what it cost him.

Revealing the Truth: Deceptions Vs. Reality

Creative Liberties

Through "War Dogs," director Todd Phillips elevates the real-life events with an entertaining spin, taking creative liberties when necessary to create a more cinematic experience. While common in adaptations, these necessary creative liberties warrant unsparing examination to separate fact from myth.

The Industry's Realities

The portrayal of the arms deal world, full of big dollar contracts, international intrigue, and individual aspirations, had broad appeal to people. Yet diving into the honest version of events sheds light on some real challenges in an industry that the movie might not have properly conveyed. The real-life stories of Diveroli and Packouz revealed details about the industry, ethical issues, and personal struggles that people who work in such fields present.