MOVIES: War, Inc. @ Tribeca

The producers say that John Cusack’s latest film “War, Inc.” is “in the vein of ‘Grosse Point Blank,’” but this puppy takes the biting satire and off-beat comedy to a whole other level.

The story is set in Turaqistan, a Middle-Eastern country supposedly under American occupation, except that every aspect of the war and the American presence has been outsourced to a private corporation, Tamerlane (run by the former US vice-president).

John Cusack plays a troubled hit man, hired by Tamerlane to kill the oil minister, Omar Sharif (who is of no seeming relation to the actor). Nothing should get in the way of American profits.

Of course, along the way he falls for the sexy journalist Natalie Hegalhuzen (Marisa Tomei), who is trying to uncover the truth. In one amusing sequence, Tomei’s character is kidnapped by hooded thugs, and forced to make one of those familiar-looking videos, outlining the group’s demands. She pleads for mercy, explaining that she’s written countless articles on the situation, published in every major journal in the world. But it turns out those dudes are just interested in shooting videos, not the issues.

You hardly find John Cusack films that don’t also feature his sister Joan, and you’ll find her here too, playing the usual, neurotic sidekick. Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Aykroyd give excellent supporting roles. Oh, and Hilary Duff’s in it too.