Film: Syriana

[mariacallas]

I cant wait to watch this on VCD or DVD Lol

 

[psychetool]

Ok, reporting back after having seen the acadamy awards judging DVD - (4.8 gigs, perfect rip, full dolby audio, WORTH EVERY GIGABYTE) It was without a doubt one of the best movies this year, with Crash coming in a close second. It showed the dark side of both entities, and did a great job to expose the corruption (in a hollywood style) that goes on behind closed doors in the oil business.

I agree with StayPuft, "Brilliant".

 

[fengtau]

i was disappointed by the movie. it was very jumbled and had a lot of build up for almost no ending. and there were lots of little subplots that showed up thru out the movie, but added nothing to the "big picture".

What she said...

 

[felix]

Just watched it yesterday. Best film I've seen this year, easily. 10/10.

I work in the oil industry so I guess that gave it a certain resonance for me.

I agree that it did seem a bit all over the place at times, but it all came together at the end. Quite a shocking final act.

I loved every second of this film. :D

 

[wizekrak]

I thought the subplots were the big picture. By showing multiple angles of the inner workings and ramifications of an industry we are better able to understand it's impact as a whole.

I thought this movies was great, I'll see it a second time when it's out for rent.

 

[felix]

^ Hmm.

To me, the big picture was: Here are the lengths the oil industry (and the US government) will go to to keep the status quo. And fuck everyone/everything else.

 

[tambourine-man]

Saw this last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably gonna need to see it a few more times before I get my head around it fully.

Having said that, I thought Donny's "corruption speech" was unnecessary and a little contrived - the sort of scene that has no real value in the film (as it states the what had already been intelligently and implicity suggested), but becomes commercially priceless when you run 20 second advertising segments on TV.

Probably the best film I've seen this year (and this includes Crash).

 

[felix]

Having said that, I thought Donny's "corruption speech" was unnecessary and a little contrived

Was that where the guy was talking to the black lawyer guy outside a courthouse building? (I forget the characters' names.) If so, I know what you mean, it seemed slightly extraneous. (Preaching to the choir.)

You have good taste in movies T-B, Crash was my favourite film of last year, hands down, no contest. %)

 

[panic_the_digital]

Very disappointing. I appreciate what the fim makes tried to do, but they ultimately fell on their faces. Poor character development, bad editing, and general lack of direction. I was really excited to see this, and it just didn't live up to its potential.

 

[mariacallas]

wow.....very entertaning piece of work, I give it five stars. I saw it a couple of hours ago and I can still hear the ending song in my head. Good stuff.

 

[mariacallas]

And can someone remind me what Clooney's question was at the theater that we as the audience don't get to hear the other guy's answer to?

I remember him asking who was behind all of the "investigations" on him, and why he was being investigated/accused or whatever.

Also, remember when the cars had to slow down to make way for a huge heard of goats and the Prince says " We always let the Bedouin go first, or have their way first" something to that effect. The full meaning of that scene only hit me when the film ended .

 

[Benefit]

The production was solid. Like Banquo said, there were a lot of amazing establishing shots, and just good visual composition in general. I also liked the way the narrative unfolded; it moved fast but was still cohesive, and they didn't waste time. The acting was decent but unremarkable, except for Jeffrey Wright who is a really fantastic and underrated actor (check him out in Angels in America if you ever have 6 hours to kill).

However, the subject is just too expansive for a 2 hour movie. I think the filmmakers did a good job given the time restraints of the medium, but ultimately it failed to accurately convey the complexities of the situation. To properly understand the Middle East and America you'd have to go back about a hundred years and read up on imperialist tendencies and the emergence of a modern global economy and capitalist exploitation and probably some Islamic studies wouldn't hurt. And that would just be a primer. I understand a line exists between entertainment and in-depth analysis of sophisticated sociopolitical dynamics, but what bothers me is that a lot of people are going to come away from this movie thinking they have a handle on the situation without every really understanding it or taking the time to penetrate the issues because they have a nice and accessible, albeit oversimplified and incomplete, 2 hour version sitting on the DVD shelf.

A few of the plot lines bugged me as well. So Matt Damon magically becomes the Prince's advisor, and not just economic advisor, but apparently right-hand man all because his son drowned and he drew some crappy shapes in the sand? It's such a flimsy pretext, and it doesn't even add anything to the emotional or intellectual impact of the film to have Matt Damon's character get nearly blown up and then wander off into the desert like Moses. Also the flag-waving Clooney trying to head them off at the pass was ridiculous and contrived.

 

[Banquo]

The acting was decent but unremarkable, except for Jeffrey Wright who is a really fantastic and underrated actor (check him out in Angels in America if you ever have 6 hours to kill).

Agreed. I have since seen him in a couple of more movies, and along with being impressive in singular roles, he is also quite versatile, playing a wide range of characters.

 

[cravNbeets]

definitely enjoyed this movie. i felt that the subject matter was done a disservice by the film's presentation. complex issues + complex delivery = lack of clarity... i feel that i grasped the overall plot but i think a more straightforward style could've been used, making film easier to follow while still maintaining some kind of stylistic edge... i *hated* the fact that the scenes in arabic werent subtitled, that was just obnoxious.

the highlight of the film for me was the visual. the first scene @ the amir's palace with all the children playing gave me chills all 3 times i watched it. the acting was pretty good but it really solidified my hatred for matt damon as overrated and boring and left me completely baffled as to just why he's popular? i was one overly simplified straight-talk monologue away from muting the fucking thing.

3 outta 5

 

[progmafia]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I saw it in the theatres with a friend of mine. He didnt understand it, but to be fair, he's kind of stupid. I thought it was smart and twisted and overall just a good, deep, thought-provoking film.

 

[mariacallas]

He didnt understand it, but to be fair, he's kind of stupid.

lol :D