Syriana
Director Stephen Gaghan ties everything together in
this story of oil companies, Arab leaders, and globalization
Best known for having written "Traffic"--multiple
connected stories about drug users and drug dealers--Stephen Gaghan's latest
effort does a similar treatment to the world of oil--the producers, the
procurers, and the immigrant workers. As in
"Traffic," we see several stories happening at once: CIA operative Bob Barnes (George Clooney) is out in the field trading arms with whichever fringe group is on our side at the moment; financial analyst Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) loses a son but winds up advising the progressive emir whose father's pool electrocuted his son; meanwhile, two petroleum giants are about to merge; and immigrant workers from Pakistan fall prey to a charismatic Muslim extremist who slowly but surely lures them into a suicide mission.
The performances are good and the connectedness of the stories seem credible. It doesn't seem so implausible that a big oil company could literally help an aging Arab leader change his mind about who will succeed him, if the lesser son is willing to favor their company in the end. It also doesn't seem so impossible that the U.S. government might aid in the assassination of the progressive son who might democratize his emirate but not have pro-American policies.
As in "Traffic," an awful lot is thrown at the viewer here, but unlike the earlier film, "Syriana" doesn't connect us quite as emotionally to any of its characters to give them any rooting value. Everyone seems sort of hatable to some degree, actually. "Syriana" does provide a fascinating look at the issues that are currently driving much of our current foreign policy; it's a shame that everyone seems easily corrupted.
"Traffic," we see several stories happening at once: CIA operative Bob Barnes (George Clooney) is out in the field trading arms with whichever fringe group is on our side at the moment; financial analyst Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) loses a son but winds up advising the progressive emir whose father's pool electrocuted his son; meanwhile, two petroleum giants are about to merge; and immigrant workers from Pakistan fall prey to a charismatic Muslim extremist who slowly but surely lures them into a suicide mission.
The performances are good and the connectedness of the stories seem credible. It doesn't seem so implausible that a big oil company could literally help an aging Arab leader change his mind about who will succeed him, if the lesser son is willing to favor their company in the end. It also doesn't seem so impossible that the U.S. government might aid in the assassination of the progressive son who might democratize his emirate but not have pro-American policies.
As in "Traffic," an awful lot is thrown at the viewer here, but unlike the earlier film, "Syriana" doesn't connect us quite as emotionally to any of its characters to give them any rooting value. Everyone seems sort of hatable to some degree, actually. "Syriana" does provide a fascinating look at the issues that are currently driving much of our current foreign policy; it's a shame that everyone seems easily corrupted.
Posted: Thu - December 29, 2005 at 12:50 AM
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Published On: Jun 20, 2009 07:03 PM
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Published On: Jun 20, 2009 07:03 PM