Syriana

[furtech]

[No spoilers]

Just came back from seeing "Syriana" and while I enjoyed the movie, I have -no- idea what happened at the end. The plot is just as convoluted and involved as "JFK", but I was without the familiarity that I have with the Kennedy assassination (all of the rumors and theories are almost cliche' these days). The film was filled with brilliant casting and acting, but there were so many people that I needed a program to remember who was who (I especially had a hard time remembering who was with the US gov and who was an oil tycoon/businessman).

I was doing just fine until the end, when everything suddenly came together (too fast). The reviews have given the film credit for not dumbing the story down (the complicated structure of Oil unfolds as you watch), but I would have LOVED a little text at the end of the film that explained the ending. More credit to the filmmakers for showing that the news we read is incredibly dumb'd down-- the situation there is like a spider web, where tweaking a line on one remote part of the web shakes the whole structure. They did a fine job showing how the "good guys" the US supports and the "bad guys" we kill aren't necessarily what they are labeled-- that "good" just often just means useful for the US. And they did this without really making anyone a bad guy, including the US: there are so many agendas and reasons (good and bad) for things to happen that it's more like watching a football game than a battle of good or evil. Highly recommended for those who love complex political thrillers!

Comments

[whiteyfawks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I found much the same as you did. TJ, Santino and I watched it on opening night, and were a little dismayed but the pace of the movie. While it was very intricate and had some very well choreographed sequences, I found the overall pace to be lacking in enthusiasm for the average movie-goer.

It did a very nice job of building up sympathy for the one 'good' brother, and a simmering discontent for the power-players and their lack of caring about human lives so long as the job gets done in the end. Kinda nails home the feeling of how the large, lumbering movements of the corporate world supersede all other activities at times, and as you said, often without regard for our own choices due to the complexity of the game being played.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

The film definitely deserves kudos for taking that chance: both on the US-not-good-guy front and for challenging the audience. But yeah: totally agree on the fast pace of the film!

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

My Mom saw that recently and came away with a similar impression. It sounds like something I'd like to see (sometime when I'm feeling up to keeping up with all the various plot threads)!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

This is a film that definitely would benefit from watching on DVD: both from the rewind-and-review aspect and because it's another film edited on an AVID system. Regarding the latter, this means that the picture will be FAR more viewable on a TV screen than on the big screen. The pseudo-documentary style of hand-held cameras does add drama and realism, but the jitteriness is a bit much on a big screen!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

PS: are you coming up to Further Confusion?!?

[skorzy.livejournal.com]

I've been very much wanting to go see this. :/ Keep getting distracted.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Wait until it's out on DVD-- trust me! There's only one short scene that benefits from the big screen: the rest is nicely suited to TV-sized screens. But definitely see it! Fascinating!

[kvogel.livejournal.com]

I dunno, it seemed pretty obvious and straight forward to me. I'm just glad the booby-trapped missle didn't complicate the attack on the LNG tanker at the end. ( bet they filmed a CG blow up the tanker sequence that they mercifully cut) The only dramatic bug I saw was the too long a pause when the agent confronts the prince at the end, it muddied the suspensful beat with the two just gawking at each other. (and I'd let pass the unbeleivable crater)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I dunno, it seemed pretty obvious and straight forward to me.

I sort of expected you'd get it: your are teh master of political dramas. Erma Felna and even parts of FUSION exhibited your talents in this area. I'm hoping you can explain the minutia of Syriana to me on the drive up...!

[mythos-amante.livejournal.com]

My ONLY regret for this con was not conversing with you for any good length of time! It's nice to share happenings and converse with you through online routes, but it's hard to get honest good cheer and high regards across in typing! XD I hope that you had an EXCELLENT time!