SYRIANA
US, 2005, 126 minutes, Colour.
George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, Christopher Plummer, Amanda Peet, Nicky Henson, Mark Strong, Jamie Sheridan.
Directed by Stephen Gaghan.
A very interesting and topical film.
A word of reviewer warning first. The plot of Syriana is extremely complex, quite a number of different strands which require full concentration. This is made even more demanding because the screenplay moves very swiftly from one strand to another, often brief scenes of drama and reporting. In fact, the locations for the film are varied. In the US, we are in Washington, Baltimore and at a hunting park in Texas. In Europe, the central action is in Geneva but also in a luxury resort in Spain. In the middle East, the film opens in Iran, moves to the oil fields of the Gulf and then to Lebanon.
And the film is up-to-date topical. While it was made in 2004, many of the references and difficulties have not changed. The role of the sheikhs and their relationships with the US government reminds us of what Michael Moore alleged in Fahrenheit 911 about the Bushes and Saudi families. The discussions about Iran and its nuclear ambitions are there as well as an American association for the liberation of Iran, peopled by wealthy businessmen. With its portrayal of the recruiting and training (and religious brainwashing) of young men prepared to kill themselves (as witnessed in their videoed testaments), audiences can get some grasp on the reasons for insurgencies.
In the United States itself, the Enron scandals, bankruptcy and current trials are obviously mirrored in a significant part of Syriana. A legal bureaucrat (Jeffrey Wright) is commissioned to investigate the background to oil company mergers, to get evidence of bribes and corruption and to deliver top-level names as scapegoats for prosecution. (The recent, Oscar-nominated documentary, Enron: The Smartest Men in the Room is well worth seeing, an illuminating portrait of greed, gamble and mismanagement.)
The background of American espionage and agents also comes to the fore, especially the activities of the CIA which are morally appalling, executions of foreign powers who are disapproved of because of their alleged hostility to US interests. Most of us can seem politically naïve and trusting of powers that be. Syriana gives plausible fictional grounds (though referenced to fact) for all kinds of conspiracy theories.
George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck, with its critique of McCarthyism? and the unscrupulous vilification of citizens by uncontrolled authoritarian senators and committees, has received many Oscar-nominations including Best Film. Clooney is behind Syriana as producer and also as star (with another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor). Clooney is establishing himself as a media personality who can influence political opinion through his films.
He plays a veteran agent who has been involved in arms deals, abductions and infiltrating Hezbollah. Now, he has spoken his mind and authorities distance themselves from him, spreading slanderous rumours to destroy his credibility. Tycoon Christopher Plummer reminds him at the end that he has been used for decades and did not ask the reasons behind what was ordered. Times have changed and there is a need to question.
The other leading player is Matt Damon as a young family man in Geneva, a prominent financial adviser. When tragedy strikes his family, he is offered an opportunity to be counsellor to a reforming Gulf prince (not approved of by the US government). He is so caught up in this world of power and wealth that he is prepared to sacrifice family. Until tragedy strikes again.
Director Stephen Gaghan wrote the Oscar-winning Traffic. Obviously, he is fascinated by American politics and issues of justice. For those who are willing to keep attentive to his film, he offers opportunity for audiences to share this fascination.
1.An American film with liberal point of view in 2005? Political implications, economic, foreign affairs, globalisation, espionage agencies?
2.Audience response to the film, from the political perspectives, right-wing, left-wing? George Clooney and his production, an American look at the Arab world, the oil world etc?
3.The scope of the film: oil companies and globalisation, oil and the Gulf, Lebanon and its history, the CIA, the Arab world, suicide bombers?
4.The structure of the film: bits and pieces, the continual accumulation of information, brief reports on the particular strands of the plot, the building up of the interconnections, a jigsaw puzzle? The need for audience attention?
5.Positive response to the film, the critique of the US, of oil companies, of Arab countries? Negative responses for the critique of the US? The cynicism in the film – ultimately positive or negative?
6.Location photography: the United States, Washington, DC, the suburbs of Baltimore, Texas and the hunt? Geneva, affluent Spain, Beirut, the oilfields of the Gulf, the desert, the wharves for the distribution of oil? Building a world picture? The atmosphere of the musical score?
7.The opening and the image of Teheran? The references to Iran, arms deals, terrorists, the CIA toppling regimes, establishing the regime in Iran in the 50s and 60s? The Arabs and the Arab countries? Suicide bombers? Migrant workers? Labour? The history of the Middle East? Oil in Kazakhstan? China and its involvement? The possibility of reform and democracy in Iran – and the American Society for the Liberation of Iran? Boardroom deals and government approval (in the light of the history of the downfall and the prosecution of Enron)?
8.The opening in Teheran, the permissive life behind the scenes, the prostitute getting dressed in strict Iranian clothing? The world of the men? The gun deals, the dealers not speaking Farsi? The explosion – and Bob’s roll? Bob Barnes in Teheran, speaking Farsi? The arms deals? For the CIA? His work in Lebanon in the 80s, his infiltration of Hezbollah? Back in the US, his being briefed about giving the report, his opinions on Iran, to a Condoleezza Rice look-alike, not being accepted? The relationship with Fred and Jane, the boss of the department? His friendship with Stan, asking for permission to return to Beirut? His plan about the abduction of Nasir? Encountering him in the elevator – and its later being remembered? The encounter with Jimmy/Mazawi? The plan for the abduction of Nasir? His own abduction, the details of the torture, the fingernails? The emir coming and stopping the torture? The CIA discussions, closing the book on Bob, fabricating the story and the rumours? Bob and his attempt to infiltrate the computers, failing in access? Going to Freddie’s house? His being rejected? Meeting Stan at the cinema and getting the information? Whiting and the intrusion into his house, the discussion at the diner, his emotional blackmail? Getting his passport back? The return to the Gulf, driving the car, the white flag, wanting to warn Nasir? The CIA explosion? Whiting and his comment about his being used by the CIA? Bob’s comment about not needing to know in the past, needing to know in the present?
9.Bennett Holliday, his working for the company, the discussions with Whiting, the summons? His investigation, a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Sidney and the board meeting, the discussions about the merger? The film giving the information about the companies, their plans, oil expansion, the deals with China, the deals with the Middle East? The illegalities of aspects of the deals, the possibility of corruption? Bennett at the board meeting? The issue of Asia, Kazakhstan, the emir and his sympathy, Nasir and his hostility, the role of the Chinese? The documents and the investigation? Bennett and the team getting the documentation? His meeting with Don – and the need for a bigger fish for the government to have? The interludes with his father, his alcoholism, his attitude towards his father? Dalton, his interview on the television, his long speech about the necessity of corruption? Corruption for the safety of the US? The discussions with Jimmy Pope and the information given? With Leland Janus and Sidney, going to the function, Sidney exposed as having done illegal deals? At the dinner, the acclaim, going back home, inviting his father into the house?
10.Whiting, commanding, sinister? His background, the oil company, the exercise of power, summoning Bennett? The intruder in the house, going to meet Bob? The blackmail? His place in the mergers? At the banquet at the end? Surviving?
11.Sidney, friendship with Bennett, the deals, breaking the law? Dalton and the deals, his speech about corruption? Pope and his speeches to the board, his ranch in Texas, the discussions with Bennett? The personnel involved in the mergers? The interview with Janus, the downfall of Sidney? The function, the speeches, the acclaim, government approval of the merger?
12.The young lawyer and his financial advice? Seen with his family, his relationship with his wife, the breakfast with the two children? Playing with them? Genial? The Geneva base, his company, the television interviews? His assistants, the advice to go to Spain, taking the family? His not being able to see the emir, explaining to the underlings? The accident and the death of his son? The funeral? (And the attempts to control the lighting, the chlorination of the pool?) Nasir, his lack of tact, the price of his son’s death? His giving advice to Nasir, the good idea about the pipeline, his being hired? Sharing ideas with Nasir? His getting caught up in this world? His rejection of his wife? The separation? In the Gulf, in the car, the bomb exploding, his surviving? Returning to his wife and children – wiser?
13.Nasir and his relationship with his father, power and wealth, the lifestyle of the sheikhs, wasting the money, the history of the 19th century, the oil wealth, the possibility of oil running out and their returning to a more barbaric state? The American pressures on the emir, his abdication, naming his worthless son? Because of his friendship with the Americans? The spendthrift son, at the end and his being acclaimed at the function?
14.Nasir, his power, education in England and America, relationship with his father, negotiating the deals with the Chinese, his reaction to the boy’s death? Hiring the financial adviser, listening to him? His vision for the Middle East, for democracy, for women? Not in collaboration with the United States (and the point made about five percent of the world’s population paying for fifty percent of the military action in the world, a sign of colonialism? His not wanting an army base? The plans, the danger, the CIA and the hostility? The attempt on his life? His discussions with his father, the father nominating the brother? Nasir and his meeting with the council of elders? The CIA, the satellite surveillance, the bombing of his car?
15.The portrait of the CIA: the boss and his fabrications about Bob, Fred and his distancing himself? The discussions between Fred and Jane, exercising policy? Stan, letting him go to Beirut, the information in the movie theatre? The scene with Fred at home? Fred and the supervising of the assassination of Nasir? The detail of the satellite surveillance? The murder – the people watching, the mutual congratulations?
16.The workers in the Gulf, from Pakistan and other countries? The board meeting and the merger, dismissals? The announcing of the dismissals to the men? The father, his son, his friend? The discussions? The idle son, trying to get work, being recruited while kicking the football, he and his friend, his initial scepticism about religion? The classes? The smooth operator, persuading them to come into the inner cell? The gun? Recording their wills – and their later being played at the end of the film? On the boats – the crash into the boat? The suicide? The context of Americans in the Middle East, the nature of insurgency?
17.Ordinary audiences and citizens watching the film, their presuppositions of faith in government, naïve attitudes towards those in power, the reality of power and greed, abuse of power, exercise of violence, lack of moral basis? The background for the development of terrorist activities?
