Syriana 4/5 (so close to a 5/5) reviewed by Chris

I just got around to seeing this film. I had been really excited to see it from the time I first heard about it. Film critics (real ones) and Hollywood-types did a grand job of hyping it up last year, if you’ll remember. It more or less slipped through the cracks for me though and something else kept trumping it when it came time to pick a movie to go see. If you read this review soon and live near me, be informed that it is at the Lewisville dollar theater. Nothing gets me to go see a movie quicker than telling me I only have to pay a buck.

Syriana

-Now in theaters, soon to be on DVD?-

Chris’s review:
As I was experiencing this movie I thought of a phrase to put in my review. That phrase is:

The most important film that Americans won’t see, care about, or understand.

By now you probably know the basic story of Syriana. It is a film by Stephen Gaghan, of “Traffic” fame, based on a book called “See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism” by Bob Baer. Basically it is multi-layered, inter-weaving story about the global oil industry and all of the politics, business, and various groups involved.
I can’t say that I know enough about the workings of the world to tell you how accurate this film is to real life but I’m not entirely sure that has anything to do with the importance of Syriana. The importance lies in the fact that this movie raises questions. This movie makes you think about the big picture. This movie “pulls back the curtain.” I think it manages to do that brilliantly, but still keeps you emotionally interested in the characters.
I had read reviews that warned this movie is hard to follow, so I went in to it a bit worried. When all was said and done, I actually had no trouble digesting everything that happened. Now, DURING the movie you DO get thrown from story to story a bit, but I think that is a device of the well-written adaptation. Part of the action and intrigue is NOT knowing everything all at once. Be warned though, this is not a movie to go to expecting everything to be given to you. There is a certain amount of effort the viewer needs to put in to keep up.
As far as craft I was very impressed. The directing, cinematography, acting, writing, etc. are all very strong. Notable performances from Matt Damon and George Clooney were highlights from a very large and skilled cast. Surprisingly, Amanda Peet rose above her typical shallow comedic roles to play the wife of Matt Damon’s character VERY well.

In conclusion (see I CAN write short reviews every now and then) I want to reiterate my feelings that this is a very important film for Americans to see. You will either come away from it having done no more than pass a few hours with a well made film, or, more importantly, you may come away from it with a slightly broader view of the world around you.

Chris’s recommendations:
See this movie if…
-You enjoy having a film present you with real world issues in a manner that is easier to follow and more entertaining than sifting through the countless cable news channels and their talking head robot anchors.
-Every now and then you are OK with having to think while you wolf down over-priced popcorn chased by your favorite soda pop.
-You sometimes question the manifest destiny type attitude of the country you live in.

Don’t see this movie if…
-The plot twists in the Charlie’s Angels movies were “too much of a distraction from looking at boobies.”
-You think even the slightest questioning of our nation’s policies and practices is not only un-American but one step away from terrorism.
-Your name is Tad.