What is War Dogs Movie Based On?
Introduction
War Dogs, a 2016 American biographical crime comedy film, tells the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who become arms dealers for the US military in the early 2000s. The film stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as the two leads, and is directed by Todd Phillips. But what is War Dogs movie based on? In this article, we will delve into the real-life events that inspired the film and explore the similarities and differences between fact and fiction.
The Real-Life Story
David Packouz, a 23-year-old sound engineer from Florida, and Efraim Diveroli, a 24-year-old from California, met online in 2005 through a website for military equipment suppliers. Both had a background in the industry, with Packouz’s father being a wealthy sound engineer and Diveroli’s father being a weapons dealer. They initially started working together to provide military equipment to the US military, but soon became embroiled in the illegal arms trade.
Their company, AEY, Inc., was responsible for providing millions of rounds of ammunition to the Iraqi military, and they would often use shell companies and fake invoices to mask their true business dealings. The duo’s exploits caught the attention of US authorities, who eventually arrested and charged them with arms dealing and other crimes.
The Film’s Accuracy
While the film takes creative liberties with the events and characters, it is loosely based on the real-life story of Packouz and Diveroli. Here are some key similarities and differences:
| Real-Life Event | Film Adaptation | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting online and starting AEY, Inc. | The film portrays the duo meeting online, but omits the initial success of their company providing military equipment. | Partly accurate |
| Involvement in the arms trade | The film focuses on the duo’s arms dealing, but downplays the scope of their operation. | Partially inaccurate |
| Arrest and indictment | The film accurately portrays the duo’s arrest and indictment, but simplifies the legal proceedings. | Mostly accurate |
| Characters’ personalities and relationships | The film exaggerates and fictionalizes the characters’ personalities and relationships for dramatic effect. | Inaccurate |
Creative Liberties
While the film’s script was based on the real-life story, it took significant creative liberties to make the story more exciting and entertaining. For example:
- Packouz’s character in the film is portrayed as a socially awkward and naive individual, whereas in reality, he was more of a schemer and entrepreneur.
- Diveroli’s character is depicted as a reckless and aggressive person, whereas in reality, he was more of a smooth talker and opportunist.
- The film simplifies and dramatizes the duo’s business dealings, exaggerating their wealth and importance.
Conclusion
War Dogs is a loosely based biographical film that takes creative liberties with the real-life story of David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli. While the film captures the essence of their illegal arms trade and subsequent legal troubles, it omits and embellishes certain events and characters for dramatic effect. Regardless, the film provides an entertaining and thought-provoking look at the illegal arms trade and the consequences of reckless ambition.
