Cross-Posted at LiberalStreetfighter.com
If you are in the mood for an engrossing look at world politics, especially in relation to the energy situation then Syriana is just the prescription. A wide net is cast telling the story of global politics and foreign business dealings in this story of the CIA, Arab sheiks, corporate movers and shakers combined with religious extremism. George Clooney scores yet again in bringing another topical piece that shows American movies can make this important kind of film if the will is there. He is to be commended yet again for throwing his star power behind something worthwhile on many levels.
A well chosen cast plays out the story of businessmen, politicians and CIA spooks on one hand and middle-eastern sheiks, their hangers on as well as unemployed Muslim youth on the other. This is an explosive mix indeed and the quite believable story is allowed to play out over 2 plus hours making sure attention is given to the story on every level. It would have been a shame to see these characters and their predicaments short changed or rushed and the film covers alot of ground in this amount of time.
Although the story is based on a novel, great care is made to show that the names and events may be changed but events like this happen constantly in the real world. Our CIA operates on the level shown here and so do big business and politicians. The US is portrayed realistically and so is the middle east in all it’s greed and corruption at the highest levels. This is just the kind of film that the American public needs to see, it may not show us in a good light but the point is to show us as we are. This will be a revelation to the flag-wavers but certianly not to the rest of the planet. Please check this film out as it is released around the country. They are rolling the film out slowly in hopes of garnering great reviews and landing on many “10 Best Lists” at the end of this month. Syriana deserves all the accolades it will receive.
I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Looking forward to seeing this film, that is. I was so bummed that the limited release didn’t include DC (I know it’s usually NYC & LA, but still).
The film includes two of my favorite actors: Jeffrey Wright & Viola Davis in a small role. They are both shamefully underrated. I think Wright is one of THE best actors out there … PERIOD. He’s fantastic.
Davis is similarly slept-on. You’ll of course catch this Tony award winning actor on Broadway but she first caught my attention in the HBO movie, The Pentagon Wars.
BTW, if you haven’t seen this movie, you should. It’s a hysterical glimpse into how military toys are made and profited from–and no doubt it’s only gotten worse.
Too bad we gots to see it in different cities, eh what?
Anyone who can kick O’Reilly’s teeth has my support.
I hate to harp on it, but i’m a big believer in supporting liberal film. If people don’t go see it, then they don’t keep making it.
If you wonder why there are so many stupid teen films out there, guess why!
Actually, I’d only qualify that to say that if you make a liberal/progressive/realistic/non-white-hero-saves-the-white-girl-with- the-help-of-a-black-sidekick-who-has-no-life-of-his-own-which-means-black-actresses-are-ass-out-sinc
e -they-can’t-even-get-parts-as-appendages (whew!) films then you need to have an actor of Clooney’s ilk backing and acting in it.
Not that Clooney’s hard on the eyes or anything…! Actually, his whole family looks good. Ever see his parents? What a handsome couple!
Honestly though, I started noticing just how gorgeous he is when he opened his mouth and I heard intelligence and wit.
That I get. Brad Pitt? I don’t get it. I so don’t understand his appeal. He’s cute…and?
I get Matt Damon, though. Looks like he’s completed his separated at birth thing from Ben Affleck. Makes me wonder whether he was the one who mostly wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Both are supposed to have brains, but…
I don’t understand Pitt, either. I understand Clooney, though. Few middle-aged guys with charm and intelligence filtering throughout the generations are around.
explains Pitt to me. That was the perfect role for him.
Oh, I like Matt Damon–just never thought he was gorgeous with “G” though. I first noticed him in Courage Under Fire with Denzel Washington & Meg Ryan. He was really, really good in it. He was also good, of course, in Good Will Hunting & Bourne Supremacy.
BTW, have you gone to pick up your hosannas (or twine, such as the case may be)?
thanks for continuing these reviews wilfred. I can’t wait to see it.
Thanks for saying that M.E., I truly love film and it is always nice to tout something actually made in this country. So many of the great films about the human condition are made elsewhere lately.
Hey wilfred, nice to see you here again. As always a great review. You’re our Ebert/Roper rolled into one but better as there’s no commercials here.