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Syriana
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Date  Helpful Rating 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  Tested ReviewPosted: 11/20/2008A review of Syriana by Movies_Tester0 This review is part of the automated test process. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  Good FlickPosted: 3/25/2008A review of Syriana by Bob_the_Bonger Good Flick yeah!! Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  SyrianaSyriana is a compelling film that is as manipulative as it is powerful. Like director Stephen Gaghans previous project Traffic, Syriana takes an important, complicated issue in the case the human price of getting oil into your car-- and diligently presents the many, often-unsavory aspects of the process. However, as with Traffic, Gaghan has already made his mind up about the issue, and since he is working with fiction, all of the characters behave in ways that support Gaghans opinions. Its not a terrible thing, to make a film that hopes to raise awareness of the what oil dependency does on both the supply and demand sides of the equation, and Gaghins not nearly as shrill in his condemnations as others might be, but as with Traffic, he tends to go one toke over the line.
Flagrant manipulation aside, the film is exceedingly well made, capably written, and wonderfully performed. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffery Wright and Chris Cooper are all at the top of their games and youll find yourself engaged by their characters motivations. Other actors fare less well, partly because their characters exist only to serve as archetypes. Amr Wakeds Muslim prince is a fine example his only job to show what the Middle East might be if well, lets just say if things were different.
In the end, Syriana is an engrossing examination of the nearly incomprehensible tangle that is the oil trade. It might have been a better film if Gaghan had back it off a notch. As it is, Syriana is like Platoon, if Oliver Stone had ended the film with the U.S. dropping a nuclear bomb on Hanoi not content to show a fictionalized account of whats really going on, Gaghan includes fictions that trivialize, rather than condemn, the attitudes of real life. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  booooring....a boring mish mash of left wing drivel ,hard to follow,characters some what blured(too many to keep track of)and geogre clooney is probably the most over rated actor in hollywood.i know this review is some what short,but wasteing to much time on this film is non-productive.p.s. drink some coffee before viewing this dvd,its a sleep inducer. Was this review helpful? Sign In 1 out of 1 users found this helpful omg-i hate this moviethis movie is awful! i cant watch such boring hard to follow confusing disjointed plotless crap! argh! george clooney needs to go back to the roseanne show! at least he was cute then! Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  Oil,Money,Terrorism and MoneyGeorge Clooney, Matt Damon, and Jeffery Wright star in Syriana the movie is
set in the Cold War era during a global fight for control of the worlds oil supply. The stories of a CIA operative, an up-and-coming oil broker, a prince and a corporate lawyer collide as the fighting for the worlds most valuable resource.
George Clooney won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in Syriana, but George Clooneys character was not a supporting role it was a leading role the sam as Matt Damon and Jeffery Wright characters. I was glad that he won but I think that Matt Damon should have got a Oscar nomination and on.
Syriana almost stands Crash because they both are very powerful movie with different plots but the same kind of effect. I liked Crash a little better (it was on my best movies list), but I think that Syriana is a little more affective.
Director Stephen Gaghan has a great way of getting deep into the roots of each character and they all have there own story and then at the end they all merge together. That it what I like in a movie. A lot of directors choose to do that in there movies like Crash and Me and You And Everyone we Know and Nine Lives.
The movies plot is so complex and hard to fallow because there are so many stories and so many different things going on. This it is the kind of movie were you really have to focus because it is a very involved film and if you miss something you wont understand it, it is the kind of movie were you have to watch it over again and you will pick up thing that you did not notice the firat time.
It is very hard to put this movie in a currant category because Yes it is a drama but at the same time it moves to be a great is a thriller.
Syriana is exciting and Powerful.
Syriana is political thriller.
Syriana is on the edge of brilliance. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Definitely not a date movieThis is definitely not a date movie, you know where you can sit back and be entertained without thinking. If this is what you are looking for, skip this movie.
I say this because there are many characters and many subplots to keep track of. Considering the topic of this movie - Middle East politics , the oil business and terrorism, you would have to expect many characters and subplots to explain the many differents angles to this topic. Also this movie is constantly shifting from one subplot to another. You need to pay attention to the movie to understand it.
One acting performance that deserves some notice is the actor who plays the lawyer assigned to investigate the business transaction. He played his role perfectly - low key and kick a__.
A final note to die-hard conservatives. George Clooney, a co-producer and a major actor in the movie, is a liberal. As such you should expect a liberal slant to this movie and in that respect you will not be disappointed. If liberal movies offend you, then I recommend skipping this movie. Was this review helpful? Sign In 2 out of 4 users found this helpful Will see it for sure nowPosted: 4/28/2006A review of Syriana by Chris20200 I now will see this movie either on DVD or On Demand, after reading theses reviews it is clear that Rabid Liberals Love it and believe anyone who does not was not smart enough to get it or feels that ignorance is bliss. Rabid Conservatives hate it and believe it is Liberal Hollywood propaganda spoon feeding the mindless masses anti American propoganda
The truth will be found by taking notes and doing a little research, Clearly a must see for politically aware, forgien politics interested, open minded people. The key, do NOT simply believe anything it says as fact, watch for things that make you think and do some independent research, the internet is a powerful tool.
Even Farienhight 911 fell apart with some honest research but, the parts that stood the test were vital. Was this review helpful? Sign In 8 out of 14 users found this helpful Not for the weak mindedWell, my husband and I are of above average intelligence and went to see this movie while on vacation, not knowing anything about it except George Clooney. He is an excellent actor and can portray anyone he chooses and this film proves it. The pluses of the movie are great performances by the entire cast, fast action, characters that are likeable.
The negatives are easier. We had to leave before it ended and we saw at least 75 of it. It seemed it would never end, never become clear as to its purpose, never tie itself together. I was exhausted and numb when we left. I cant watch torture scenes and this movie contained one. My husband says I missed nothing by missing the scene where they remove Clooneys nail beds.
After reading the above review by Mr. Siebert, perhaps, when I am alone and it is available on DVD, I will rent it and try to grasp the entire plot. I was just very aware that my husband and I whispered to each other frequently, What is going on? I would suggest if you are not politically aware, internationally astute and feel you cannot make a difference in this enormity of the world, dont spend your money on this film. Was this review helpful? Sign In 3 out of 9 users found this helpful havent seen movie..but food for thoughthello,
i have not seen the movie, though I intend to when it comes out on dvd. from the reviews i just finished reading, one theme struck me about a common reaction from many of those who left the movie before it even really began. its a theme that touches all of our lives in some way, and a theme that begins in childhood- that of immediate gratification and poor attention span. it would seem to me that a movie of such scope, one dealing with important issues that invariably affect us all in very direct ways, should compel all of us to sit up and take note, and not necessarily agree with what is being offered, but remain open minded and come together as a collective to discuss and resolve the divides that exist between families, states, and nations. if anything, this is not a time to continue to judge each other, the actors, hollywood, or the movie. it is a time to choose not judgment, but humility and truth. these can not be found if we are continuing to enter into a war of words with each other. it seems today that we are so bound by sound bites, commercialism-materialism, and the me-first mentality that we have relinquished our ability to recognize when we need to listen. our world needs us to listen, right now. we need each other to listen. judging conservatives, judging liberals, this mentality moves us in no useful direction. it is akin to what i have heard through these reviews is a theme in the movie- people all over the world, in all different cultures, at the end of the day, want a better and safer world for their children. they are us, we are them. and the same goes with the people you are judging with the use of your reviews- they have families, children, and meaningful relationships, just like you. its time to come together, and meet in the middle. its no longer and being right, but being compassionate and seeking understanding. that is useful. Was this review helpful? Sign In 12 out of 13 users found this helpful Gripping and ComplexPosted: 3/6/2006A review of Syriana by arabiandream1 Wow. An absolute delight of nuanced acting and powerful directing. The story is complex, spanning multitudes of countries and characters, all woven in a spellbinding story of black, white and vast shades of grey. Politics aside, it tries to illuminate the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and all the players within. Reminds me of Traffic with its gritty realism and camera angles. Whether you agree with some of the premises found in the movie or not, it is a true cinematic gem and a must see. George Clooney at his best. Was this review helpful? Sign In 12 out of 29 users found this helpful Worst movie ever!Why do I have to give it any stars? This is the first movie that Ive actually fallen asleep at. When I did wake up the other 3 adults I was was with all agreed it was time to leave. This is also the first movie Ive ever left before the end. I dont know how this movie was nominated for anything but WORST MOVIE OF THE DECADE! Was this review helpful? Sign In 6 out of 19 users found this helpful Confused!Posted: 3/2/2006A review of Syriana by robin1235678 I went to see this movie and had no clue what was going on. I was lost on the plot, purpose, characters... everything! It kept skipping around from country to country. The characters were confusing. The plot was impossible for me to figure out. It made no sense to me! I would not recommend it. Was this review helpful? Sign In 24 out of 29 users found this helpful Ahead of its timePosted: 2/2/2006A review of Syriana by moviemannyc1 I have heard many people say that the plot was too convoluted and that this movie was lost in the intricate cross-narrative it attempted. As a result, this has become their reason why they didnt think Syriana was a good movie--the fact that it presented too much information.
This was a well-timed, brilliant movie which should be used as an educational tool to understand the oft-complicated relationship between American foreign and economic policy when it encounters the Middle East. Perhaps better than any movie made recently, Syriana shows that US business interests have always contradicted US rhetoric about democracy and political and economic reform in the Middle East, as well as other parts of the world. A stable, independent Middle East would not be the trough of oil and special interests that it is today.
This movie also shows how the long-running policies have become exteremely persuasive recruiting tools for militant Islamist groups and are strangling the possibility of an independent, moderate, and respected Middle East in the world. If countries there are not given the right to determine their own course, they can easily become radicalized by extremist groups that such policies seem to so predictably create.
A fine movie, I really respect George Clooney and Matt Damon for having the guts and vision to make such a powerful film. Was this review helpful? Sign In 16 out of 32 users found this helpful excellentPosted: 1/31/2006A review of Syriana by mishelereaux1 Thanks George Clooney for an intelligent, truthful and memorable movie.
The only people who would not like the movie are the usual ignorant conservatives. Who listens to them anyway... Was this review helpful? Sign In | ||
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