Was the Movie War Dogs Based on a True Story?
The movie War Dogs, released in 2016, is a biographical crime comedy-drama film directed by Todd Phillips. The film tells the story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who become arms dealers and are involved in a massive scheme to supply weapons to the Afghan military. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but it sparked curiosity among audiences about the accuracy of the events depicted on screen. In this article, we will delve into the truth behind the movie and answer the question: Was the movie War Dogs based on a true story?
The Real-Life Story
David Packouz, a former classmate of Efraim Diveroli, was an arms dealer who supplied weapons to the Afghan military. In 2007, Packouz and Diveroli, who was an experienced arms dealer, decided to start their own arms dealing business, called AEY Inc. They marketed themselves as a legitimate business, but in reality, they were involved in illegal arms dealing.
Key Events in the Movie
The movie War Dogs depicts several key events that are based on real-life occurrences. Here are some of the most significant events:
- The Contract with the Afghan Military: In the movie, Packouz and Diveroli land a massive contract to supply weapons to the Afghan military. This event is true, and the contract was worth $300 million.
- The M249 SAW: The movie shows Packouz and Diveroli importing M249 SAW machine guns from the United States to Afghanistan. This event is also true, and the two men were caught importing large quantities of weapons without proper documentation.
- The FBI Investigation: The movie depicts the FBI investigation into Packouz and Diveroli’s arms dealing activities. This event is true, and the two men were eventually arrested and charged with illegal arms dealing.
Differences Between the Movie and Reality
While the movie War Dogs is based on real-life events, there are several significant differences between the film and reality. Here are some of the most notable differences:
- Packouz’s Character: In the movie, Packouz is portrayed as a naive and innocent character who is swept up in Diveroli’s schemes. In reality, Packouz was more involved in the arms dealing business and was aware of the illegal activities.
- Diveroli’s Character: The movie portrays Diveroli as a charismatic and ruthless character who is the mastermind behind the arms dealing operation. In reality, Diveroli was more of a smooth talker who was able to convince Packouz to join him in the business.
- The FBI Investigation: The movie depicts the FBI investigation as a thorough and meticulous operation that eventually leads to the arrest of Packouz and Diveroli. In reality, the FBI investigation was more of a tip-based operation that was initiated after a whistleblower came forward with information about the illegal arms dealing activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the movie War Dogs is based on a true story, but it is also a dramatization of real-life events. The film takes creative liberties with the characters and events to make the story more exciting and engaging. While the movie is not entirely accurate, it does capture the essence of the real-life events and the characters involved.
Table: Comparison of the Movie and Reality
| Event | Movie | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Contract with Afghan Military | $300 million | $300 million |
| M249 SAW | Imported without documentation | Imported without documentation |
| FBI Investigation | Thorough and meticulous | Tip-based |
| Packouz’s Character | Naive and innocent | More involved in arms dealing |
| Diveroli’s Character | Charismatic and ruthless | Smooth talker |
| FBI Investigation | Leads to arrest of Packouz and Diveroli | Leads to arrest of Packouz and Diveroli |
In the End
The movie War Dogs is a biographical crime comedy-drama that is based on a true story. While the film takes creative liberties with the characters and events, it does capture the essence of the real-life events and the characters involved. The film is a thrilling and engaging portrayal of two young men who become arms dealers and are involved in a massive scheme to supply weapons to the Afghan military.
