| "Syriana" is as timely
and important a film as you are ever likely to see. It analyzes
the dismal corruption and interconnectedness of the oil business from
multiple perspectives. From the reform-minded billionaire sheik
to the CIA analyst, from the oil corporation insider to the
knowledgeable and weary politician, from the lowly unpaid field
workers of Iran to the power hungry Enron-style shareholders... This
brilliantly insightful film rips to shreds virtually every section of
this messy maze of deceit. I am not sure that "Syriana" even
remotely attempts to solve the problem. That conceit is far
beyond its reach. It is merely trying to expose the very nature
of American involvement in the gulf region and how it desperately
needs there to be unrest and chaos brewing in that culture for the US
to retain control of the flow of oil.
Stephen Gaghan is the writer and director of this film and he
imbues it with the same sensibilities of his earlier cinematic
masterpiece, "Traffic". That film was directed by Steven
Soderbergh. Here, Gaghan takes the helm in addition to writing
the script. But you can clearly see the influence that the
earlier film has on this one. He mimics the same convoluted and
overlapping style that will leave entertainment seekers in the dust.
This film is not entertainment... it is a lesson.
I loved all the solemn performances in this film. The notable
stand-outs were George Clooney, Matt Damon, Tim Blake Nelson and
Amanda Peet. Clooney transforms into a veteran CIA agent who is
feeling pressure on all sides to discontinue his aspersions of
corruption. He is fully deserving of award hardware for this
role.
Matt Damon is consistently churning out great work. I think
he may just be starting out on a legendary career. He is
energetic and powerful here. There are three or four scenes
where his speeches and insights are delivered with such passion and
truth that you just feel like standing up and cheering.
In a very small role, Amanda Peet manages to somehow pack one of
the bigger emotional punches of 2005. She did the same thing a
few years ago with very limited screen time in a film called "Changing
Lanes". I thought she deserved the Oscar for best supporting
actress that year despite having less than ten minutes to shine.
She will be overlooked again in this small role. But I think
Hollywood should pay more attention to this girl and start offering
her roles where she can deliver like that throughout.
"Syriana" is complicated. A second or third viewing may well
be necessary to gather all the information. But attentive
viewers will pick up on all the subtle innuendo and political
commentary that is more relevant now than ever before. It is a
great film that asks a lot of important questions without providing
answers... Those we must contemplate for ourselves. This film
begs us to care more than we seemingly do. It is a film
compelling us to action before it is too late. It is one of the
very best films of 2005. |
