Hawke starred in the 2005 action thriller "Assault on Precinct 13", a loose remake of John Carpenter's 1976 film of the same title, with an updated plot. The film received ambivalent reviews; some critics praised the dark swift feel of the film, while others compared it unfavorably to John Carpenter's original. Hawke also appeared that year in the political crime thriller "Lord of War", playing an Interpol agent chasing an arms dealer played by Nicolas Cage. In 2006, Hawke was cast in a supporting role in "Fast Food Nation", directed by Richard Linklater based on Eric Schlosser's best-selling 2001 book. The same year, Hawke directed his second feature, "The Hottest State", based on his eponymous 1996 novel. The film was released in August 2007 to a tepid reception.