Movie Review

Popped to the movies today, and caught the recent Oscar winner, Syriana. Below is a review.

Syriana

Sharing a similar sprawling tapestry as the screenplay he adapted for Traffic, writer/director Stephen Gaughan, attempts another big subject, namely America's dependance on Middle Eastern oil resources. Adapted loosely from Robert Baer's book "See No Evil", Syriana is a difficult, thought-provoking analysis that attempts a multi-faceted, multi charactered approach.

Whilst this will confuse many (Characters, situations and places are suddenly introduced with no formal cinematic language), it is too the credit of Gaughan that he believes his audience will have intelligence. This is no Vin Diesel no-brainer. Deaths and explosions here have real consequences.

The narrative is driven primarily by four characters, all representing different aspects of US involvement in the Middle East. Rightly so, that acting honours went to Clooney, his CIA agent, Bob Barnes is a man who begins to question his loyality, unable to understand his role in events. And when he does, even he is ultimately flawed.

But this is no means his movie. Excellent turns by Matt Damon, Jeffery Wright and Alexander Siddig colour this movie with shades of flawed humanity.

Syriana is demanding viewing. Both in terms of story (sometimes words are unheard/dialogue is left untranslated), and in it's unflinching realism.

8 out of 10

http://syrianamovie.warnerbros.com/