SYRIANA
Substitute the 'drugs' in "Traffic" for 'oil' and you get not only a more socially relevant construct but a thriller that feels very real - maybe too real!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2005)USA/WB/Rated R] - (2 hrs. 8 min.)
Written & directed by Stephen Gaghan
Source: suggested by the book "See No Evil" by Robert Baer
Original score by Alexandre Desplat
[In English, Arabic, & Farsi / Locations in Dubai, Morocco, Europe, and the U.S.]
Characters/Cast
Bob Barnes (CIA agent) - George Clooney
Stan (Bob's 'retired' CIA pal) - William Hurt
Bryan Woodman (Energy analyst) - Matt Damon
Julie Woodman (Bryan's wife) - Amanda Peet
Bennett Holiday (D.C. attorney/investigator) - Jeffrey Wright
Dean Whiting - Christopher Plummer
Jimmy Pope (Oil company rep) - Chris Cooper
Stan - William Hurt
Review:
If you liked "The Constant Gardener" then this is a great companion piece to add to you MUST-SEE list. Yes it's complex, yes there are lots of characters, and yes it's worth seeing at least TWICE! Meanwhile, 'red-staters' can cross it immediately off their lists.
Best plotline features George Clooney ("Good Night. And Good Luck.") as a Middle-East based covert CIA agent who gets 'used' and is then forced to take matters into his own hands. His role is based on Robert Baer, an actual 'invisible' man who could infiltrate deep into the ranks of any terrorist organization. Worth seeing for Clooney's Golden Globe winning performance alone, plus William Hurt ("A History of Violence") has a nice bit part as a 'friend' in the know.
Another much more farflung plotline follows energy analyst Matt Damon ("The Bourne Supremacy") into the richly appointed domain of an Iranian Emir who is trying to decide which son he should leave his empire, one which includes vast oil fields. With Chinese and American interests competing for the world oil market an assassination may be in the offing to solve the Emir's dilemma.
The hardest to follow part of the story involves Jeffrey Wright ("Broken Flowers") as a legal investigator trying to punch some holes in a merger between two oil companies who hope to have enough combined power to outbid the Chinese for the Emir's oil. He finds a willing accomplice in Chris Cooper ("Capote") and manages to nail a couple of bigwigs, one of which who is taken completely by surprise (to hilarious effect).
There's also a subplot involving some Pakistani workers, a father and son, who lose their jobs in Iran when the oil rig is taken over by the Chinese. Later they are threatened with deportation if they're unable to find employment. The son joins his Muslim friends at a local school, gets some religion, and then gets the call to follow "Allah's will" ... in other words: blow something up suicide bomber style!
I did understand about 95% of the plot the first time through, so don't be intimidated. Probably one of the few films you'll ever see that you wish were LONGER to fill in a few extra details. Thriller-genre fans can deal with this level of complexity and it's great for meet-up groups seeking films that generate plenty of discussion afterwards.
Check it out!
MORE Cast:
Wasim Khan (laid-off worker) - Mazhar Munir
Danny Dalton - Tim Blake Nelson
Emir Hamed Al-Subaai - Nadim Sawalha
Prince Nasir Al-Subaai (the Emir's older son) - Alexander Siddig
Prince Meshal Al-Subaai (the Emir's younger son) - Akbar Kurtha
Bennett's father (the drunk) - William C. Mitchell
Farooq - Sonnell Dadral
Robby Barnes (Bob's son) - Max Minghella
Donald - David Clennon
Tommy Barton - Robert Foxworth
Leland Janus (Connex Oil CEO) - Peter Gerety
Mussawi (the torturer) - Mark Strong
Jayne Atkinson ... CIA Division Chief
Tom McCarthy (Bob's immediate superior) ... Fred Franks
Jamey Sheridan (CIA Section Head) ... Terry
Jon Lee Anderson ... Himself
CREW:
Cinematographer: Robert Elswit
Editor: Tim Squyres
Production designer: Dan Weil
Art directors: Laurent Ott (overseas), Alan Hook (U.S.), Andrew Menzies (Baltimore), and Daran Fulham (Dubai)
MOVIE website
+++++++++++++++++++++++++