Storylines do begin to converge about halfway through the film, or later, and we finally begin to get the sense that the seemingly unrelated pieces of this complex mosaic are starting to make a larger picture, even if we don’t exactly understand what it is. Bob Barnes’ first return to Beirut marks a definite turning point in the film. Things pick up from there. At this point we begin to feel that Syriana is going somewhere, that the stakes are mounting and some significant resolution might take place.
Despite its complicated construction, I recommend Syriana. It is one of those movies whose ending has the retroactive effect of suddenly making the whole picture seem better, and making us realize that there was more to it than we may have initially realized, that beneath the confusion there was substance after all. For people who liked Traffic, you may already be inclined to enjoy Syriana, as both films were written by Stephen Gaghan, and bear much of the same structural approach to telling their story, with Syriana revealing government (American) corruption in the Middle East and Traffic showing the same thing in South America. As well, the film is visually satisfying, as I have described. There is a real sense of going on a journey, through a few dark tunnels, so to speak, and I enjoyed the “subconscious” feel of it.
In the end, I believe I felt what director Stephen Gaghan wanted me to feel: stunned, and perhaps a little bit more aware, if I wasn’t already fairly suspicious, of just how deep the connections run in Washington between the oil companies and espionage, between business and terrorism. I look forward to a second viewing of Syriana.
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Article comments
1 - -E
Interesting review. I think you liked the movie much better than I. I found it had a ton of potential but never came close to fulfulling it. I found it boring and lacking and the only interesting part was the convoy of vehicles in the end. Did that make it all of a sudden better? Nope. I honestly wanted my money back. Nor do I think it should have been given any nods for any awards.
2 - Steve
I thought this movie was overrated but not bad, certainly the location filming was a nice change from the usual 'studio/special effects shooting' kind of movie.
The scene where Damon's character explains to the Saudi Prince that by spending money on themselves instead of infrastructure, that their people will be impoverished once again when the oil runs out, was the most memorable for me.
3 - Chris Evans
I personally thought the movie was not very good (I hate it when filmmakers confuse complicated and confusing with intelligent) but did think the acting was pretty good. But that's to be expected with people like Clooney, Wright, and Damon.
4 - Bliffle
I quickly decided that it was not my job to piece all the plot threads together, and then I just sat back and allowed the movie to tell it's story. Then I enjoyed it. But it fell short of much of it's promise.
5 - John G
I was very very disappointed. At the end of the day a movie has to entertain. Take music. The vast majority of people would enjoy hearing music played by an orchestra; very few would get the same pleasure reading the printed notes from a music sheet. This film was like reading the music, not listening to it. I felt I should have read the script instead. I would not recommend this movie to anyone (apart from hardened film critics and those who pretend to be intelligent) For the first time I would like my money back.
6 - freak
the movie is good. i liked it a lot in 2005, bt never thought that its "drones" are what us forces are now in 2009 using to assasinate terrorist leaders in afghan-pak and the influnce of radical islam on pakistani immigrants in u.a.e