New Showbiz

You are here:
The Art of War

The Art of War

2000

R

Director

Christian Duguay

Runtime

117 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Neil Shaw is both agent and weapon - a critical line of defense for the Secretary General of the United Nations. He does not even officially exist. As an international security expert, he must uncover an international plot in which ruthless terrorists threatened to bring down the United Nations on the eve of an historic summit with China. A mysterious chain of events leads to the murder of the Chinese U.N. Ambassador, and the terrorists frame Neil Shaw, the one man they believe can stop them. Accused of the crime, Shaw goes underground — in effect, vanishing from his own life — as he tries to stop what could become World War III.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.7/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks LGBTQ+ characters and does not explore non-heteronormative identities. It adheres strictly to conventional heteronormative social structures.

Gender Representation

Limited

Narrative focus remains on masculine archetypes of physical prowess and professional competence. Female characters occupy traditional roles that support the male-driven plot and established hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

Wesley Snipes provides a significant presence for a Black actor in a high-stakes genre. However, the story focuses on professional skill rather than intersectional identity.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film operates within a standard capitalist framework using high-society wealth as a backdrop. It lacks significant anti-Western or anti-religious sentiment.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no significant depiction of visible or invisible disabilities. No characters utilize disability as a narrative device or plot point.

Strengths

  • The lead role provides significant representation for a Black actor in a high-stakes action setting.
  • The protagonist is afforded central agency rather than being relegated to tokenism.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film relies on traditional gender hierarchies and masculine archetypes.
  • There is a lack of LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative identities.
  • The narrative does not explore intersectional identity or systemic racial dynamics.

AI Analysis

The Art of War is a conventional action-thriller that prioritizes genre tropes over progressive representation. While the casting of Wesley Snipes offers meaningful agency to a Black protagonist, the film remains anchored in traditional social structures. The narrative relies heavily on masculine archetypes, concentrating decision-making power and agency within male characters. This reinforces established gender hierarchies rather than challenging them. Ultimately, the film functions as a skill-based professional drama. It avoids exploring systemic racial dynamics or cultural critiques, opting instead for a standard, status-quo cinematic experience.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for xXx: Return of Xander Cage

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

2017

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 3.4 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.