Syriana

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This article is about the film. For the term's use in international relations, see Pax Syriana.
Syriana

IMDb 7.2/10
Directed by Stephen Gaghan
Produced by Jennifer Fox
Michael Nozik
Georgia Kacandes
Steven Soderbergh
George Clooney
Written by Stephen Gaghan
Starring George Clooney
Matt Damon
Jeffrey Wright
Chris Cooper
Amanda Peet
William Hurt
Christopher Plummer
Alexander Siddig
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) December 9, 2005
June 20, 2006 (DVD)
Running time 128 min.
Language English
Budget $50,000,000
IMDb profile

Syriana is a 2005 Academy Award-winning geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan. As with Gaghan's screenplay for Traffic, Syriana uses multiple storylines to portray global themes. Syriana focuses on the influence of the oil industry, whose political, economic, legal, and social effects are experienced by a CIA operative (George Clooney), an energy analyst (Matt Damon), a Washington attorney (Jeffrey Wright), and a young unemployed Pakistani migrant worker in an Arab, Persian Gulf country (Mazhar Munir).

Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir, See No Evil. George Clooney was one of the film's executive producers. In his review, film critic Roger Ebert suggests that the film is an example of hyperlink cinema.[1] As of April 20, 2006, the film grossed a total of $50.82 million in the U.S. box office and $42.9 million in the rest of the world, for a total of $93.73 million.[2]

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

The film is told through parallel stories and jumps from location to location, ranging from Texas, to Washington D.C., to Switzerland, to Spain, and throughout the Middle East.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Fictional, but suggestively-named, American energy giant Connex once had control of key Middle East oil fields in an unnamed emirate -- a 'Fictional kingdom' -- ruled by the al-Subaai family; however, the country's foreign minister, Prince Nasir (Alexander Siddig) has granted natural-gas drilling rights to a Chinese company. Nasir's move greatly upsets the American oil industry and government. Meanwhile Killen, a smaller oil company, has won the drilling rights to key oil fields in Kazakhstan. Connex has lost production capacity and needs the Kazakh oil field to make up for it; to that end, they initiate a merger with Killen. Following a historic but shadowy merger, Connex-Killen becomes the fifth largest oil company and the 23rd largest economy in the world; nonetheless, American anti-trust regulators at the Department of Justice (DOJ) have some misgivings about the deal.

The Washington law firm headed by Dean Whiting (Christopher Plummer) is hired to smooth the way, and the taciturn Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is assigned. Whiting explains that suspicions of bribing foreign officials must be confronted, satisfying the DOJ that the parties in the merger have exercised due diligence in investigating any past crimes. It is clear, however, that Whiting expects that Holiday will make sure that no reasons are found to block the merger.

The filmmakers used the exterior of the Royal Mirage hotel in Dubai as the emir's Spanish estate.
Enlarge
The filmmakers used the exterior of the Royal Mirage hotel in Dubai as the emir's Spanish estate.

Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) is an energy analyst based in Geneva, Switzerland. Woodman's supervisor directs him to attend a private party hosted by the emir at his estate in Marbella, Spain, to offer his company's analytical services. Woodman is unwilling, because it will be his son's birthday, but he is told to take his family with him to enjoy the party. At the party, Woodman is prevented from speaking directly with the emir, who is busy showing off the estate's remotely controlled electronic systems to Chinese oil executives. They try to control the swimming pool's lighting system, but it is not working properly due to faulty wiring under the water.

Two of the emir's men ask Woodman to explain his proposal while standing in the hallway, in front of other guests, which makes Woodman uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Woodman's elder son, who seems slightly ill-at-ease with the other children at the party, is encouraged to jump into the pool to play a game. The child jumps in, unaware that under the surface there are live exposed electrical wires, and is electrocuted.

In reparation and out of sympathy for the loss of his son, Prince Nasir grants Woodman's company key oil interests worth 75 million USD, and invites Woodman to become his economic advisor. Prince Nasir confides in Woodman that all is not as it appears. As it turns out, the prince knows that oil dependency is not sustainable in the long term, and he desires to break away from American economic dependence and utilize his nation's oil profits to diversify his nation's economy and introduce democratic reforms to his country. In contrast to the reactionary, fundamentalist status quo of his father's government (which has been supported by American interests), Prince Nasir is dedicated to the idea of progressive reform. He is compared to prominent leaders such as Mossadeq, Kemal Ataturk, and King Faisal.

The western-educated prince informs Woodman that he wants to improve the lives of his people, advance the status of women, and create a parliamentary system on liberal lines — but the U.S. stands in the way. Nasir hopes to succeed his father as emir, but his younger brother, happy with his playboy lifestyle and willing to continue the status quo (such as American military presence), is chosen. Nasir arranges a military coup, but on the verge of its execution, American officials arrange an attack on his vehicle by a Predator drone. The Predator drone launches a supersonic AGM-114 Hellfire missile, killing him and his family.

Robert Barnes (George Clooney) is a veteran CIA field operative who is being used by the CIA to stop Middle Eastern illegal arms trafficking. While on an assignment in Tehran to assassinate two arms dealers, Barnes notes that one of two Stinger missiles that were supposed to have been destroyed in the explosion that killed the two Iranian traffickers was given to a blue-eyed Arab who did not speak Farsi. After Barnes makes his superiors nervous by writing memos drawing attention to the theft of the second missile, Barnes is proposed for a desk job; but, as a field agent who is unaccustomed to the political discretion required, he quickly embarrasses the wrong person by speaking his mind and is sent back to field work — specifically, arranging the assassination of Prince Nasir. Barnes travels to Lebanon and seeks safe passage from a Hezbollah leader, who is apparently unaware of his CIA role. Barnes then contacts a mercenary with whom he has worked before, named Mussawi, whom Barnes addresses as "Jimmy," to his annoyance. Barnes hires Mussawi to murder Nasir. But Barnes's contact turns out to be an Iranian agent, who has Barnes kidnapped. Mussawi tortures Barnes, seeking information about the Tehran assassination. With Barnes's execution seeming certain, he is saved by the Hezbollah leader, who interrupts Mussawi and frees Barnes. When the CIA learn that Mussawi intends to pass details of the mission to assassinate Nasir, the agency seeks to distance itself by scapegoating Barnes and portraying him as a rogue agent. A link is made here to the law firm head, Whiting, who is worried about Bob talking about the Nasir job due to a possible lack of American credibility, stemming from revelations of CIA involvement; additionally, the coup that Nasir is organizing would have a greater likelihood of success and, more importantly, the eventual assassination of Nasir by Predator drone would be wholly evident as an American hit. But, after being threatened, Whiting ensures the release of Barnes' passports through his powerful political connections. Barnes eventually learns the true motivations undergirding his mistreatment, and attempts to warn Prince Nasir before the latter is assassinated, but is killed in the explosion.

Connex Pakistani migrant workers Saleem Ahmed Khan (Shahid Ahmed) and his son Wasim (Mazhar Munir) board a bus to go to work at a Connex refinery. When they arrive, they find out that they have been laid off due to a Chinese company (China Gas and Electric) outbidding Connex for the rights to run that facility. Since the company has provided food and lodging, the workers face the threat of poverty and deportation due to their unemployed status. Wasim desperately searches for work. The migrant workers are ordered to report to the immigration bureau or face deportation and Saleem and Wasim wait in a long line, which is overseen by heavily armed guards. A public address system warns those waiting to keep silent. An elderly man complains about the heat, and when Saleem tries to warn him not to talk, it is Saleem and Wasim who are beaten with truncheons by the guards. Wasim and his friend join an Islamic school to learn Arabic in an effort to improve their employment prospects. While playing soccer, they meet a charismatic blue-eyed Muslim fundamentalist cleric (the same who took Bob Barnes' missile launcher in Iran) and start down a path that will eventually lead them into executing a suicide attack on a Connex-Killen LNG tanker (similar to the Limburg attack). The explosive device used in the attack is the shaped-charge explosive from the missile that Robert Barnes lost in Iran. The individual or organization that is responsible for this attack remains unclear.

The death of Wasim through the attack on the tanker is linked to the death of Barnes (who was killed in the same airstrike as Nasir) in a scene where Barnes' CIA office is being cleaned up.

Woodman has a falling out with his wife who leaves Switzerland as he begins to focus more intensely on his work — work that he sees as having benefits beyond that of simply making money for his company. After surviving, by pure chance, the Predator attack that killed Barnes and Nasir, he rejoins his wife and son in the US.

Bennett Holiday meets with U.S. Attorney Donald Farish III, who is convinced that Killen paid off someone to get the drilling rights in Kazakhstan. While investigating Connex-Killen's records, Holiday discovers a wire transfer of funds that is traced back to a transaction between Danny Dalton (Tim Blake Nelson) and Kazakhstani officials. Holiday tells Connex-Killen management of his discovery, and they pretend not to know of the under-the-table deal. Holiday advises Dalton that he will likely be charged with corruption; Dalton will eventually serve as a "body" to get the Justice Department off of Connex-Killen's back. Farish has an impromptu meeting with Holiday, reminds him of the limits to attorney client privilege, and strong arms Holiday into giving the Justice Department information about illegal activities he has discovered. Holiday gives up Dalton, but Farish tells Holiday that Dalton isn't enough. Holiday later meets with ex-Killen chief Jimmy Pope (Chris Cooper), and informs him that the Justice Department needs "another body" to drop the investigation. Pope offers Holiday a hypothetical about whether a person at Holiday's firm, above him, would be sufficient as the additional body. Holiday acknowledges that if the name is big enough, that Justice would stop the investigation, and the merger would go through.

Holiday and Sydney Hewitt meet with Connex-Killen chief, Lee Janus, just before he is to be awarded "oil industry man of the year". In a surprise move, Holiday reveals, in front of the Connex-Killen chief, another under-the-table deal that Hewitt made while the Connex-Killen merger was being processed. Holiday has given Hewitt to the Justice Department, who will be the additional "body". At the award ceremony, Janus acknowledges his thanks to the Connex-Killen staff, and gives special thanks to the new emir, right after the assassination of his brother, the liberal reformist.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Themes

[edit] Oil addiction and dependence

The central theme is the dependence of the U.S. on oil. Several characters in the film espouse the theory of Peak Oil.

[edit] Father-son

Syriana revolves around a subtext of father-son relationships: Bryan Woodman and his two sons, the elder of whom is killed in the emir's swimming pool; the emir and his pair of sons competing for succession, the elder of whom is killed in an American air strike; Saleem Ahmed Khan and his son Wasim, who comes to embrace Muslim militants; the lawyer Bennett Holiday and his alcoholic father; and Robert Barnes and his high school son who wants a "normal" life.

[edit] Family versus politics

There are many apparent conflicts in the movie between personal family lives and politics, mainly in terms of morality.

Clooney wanted to incorporate the character's family members into the story to show how tough this life is on them, and several scenes involving his character's wife (played by Greta Scacchi) were excised from the final cut. The role garnered Clooney an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor anyway, though an attempt was made to show the effect on family in many other characters, especially to Bryan Woodman's (played by Damon).

[edit] Blood for oil: The New Imperialism

The film suggests that the U.S. is willing to kill reformists to ensure that the U.S. maintains its patronage-type relationship with the Middle East, in order to strengthen and reinforce its control of the oil. It also obliquely suggests that the capitalism of the West is one of the many root causes of Islamic fundamentalist terrorist activities.

[edit] Title

The movie's title is somewhat ambiguous. Some have suggested that it comes from Pax Syriana, as an allusion to the necessary state of peace between Syria and the U.S. as it relates to the oil business. In a December 2005 interview, Baer told NPR that the title is a metaphor for foreign intervention in the Middle East, referring to post-World War II think tank strategic studies for the creation of an artificial state (such as Iraq, created from the elements of the former Ottoman Empire) that would ensure continued western access to crude oil. The movie's website states that "'Syriana' is a very real term used by Washington think-tanks to describe a hypothetical reshaping of the Middle East."[3] Gaghan said he saw Syriana as "a great word that could stand for man's perpetual hope of remaking any geographic region to suit his own needs." [4]

The word Syriana derives from Syria + the Latin suffix -ana, a neuter plural form; it means, roughly, "things Syrian." Historically, Syria refers not to the state that since 1944 has borne the name, but to a more extensive land stretching from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea to the middle Euphrates River and the western edge of the desert steppe, and from the Tauric system of mountains in the north to the edge of the Sinai desert in the south. This land was part of the Fertile Crescent, and has historically been a geopolitically crucial junction for trade routes from the east, from Asia Minor and the Aegean, and from Egypt, and has long been a focus of great power conflicts. The word Syria does not appear in the Hebrew original of the Scriptures, but appears in the Septuagint as the translation of Aram. Herodotus speaks of "Syrians" as identical with Assyrians, but the term's geographical significance was not well defined in pre-Greek and Greek times. As an ethnic term, "Syrian" came to refer in Antiquity to Semitic peoples living outside Mesopotamian and Arabian areas. Greco-Roman administrations were the first to apply the term to a definite district (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed.).

[edit] Interviews

[edit] Reviews

Syriana received generally very positive reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert named it the second best film of 2005, behind Crash, while his partner critic and co-host Richard Roeper named it the best film of the year. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave it his highest rating.

[edit] Criticism

As a motion picture, the main criticism, even among reviewers who praised the film, was the confusion created by following so many stories. Most critics stated that it was almost impossible to follow the plot, though some, notably Roger Ebert, praised precisely that quality of the film. The audience confusion mimics the confusion of the characters, who are enmeshed in the events around them without a clear understanding of what precisely is going on.

The political criticism of the motion picture is something else. Syriana has been criticized because it is based on the story of a spy accused of attempting to assassinate Saddam Hussein, but in the movie the Hussein figure who Clooney is to assassinate is a benevolent, liberal prince. Amir Taheri called it "ethno-centrism gone wild. Its message is: The Arabs are nothing, not even self-motivated terrorists, but mere puppets manipulated by us in the omnipotent U.S.!"[2]. Richard Cohen calls its portrayals of terrorists, the CIA, oil companies, and the U.S. government "crude clichés"[3]. Charles Krauthammer has also been critical of what he sees as the film's pathologically "anti-American" views and moral equivalence, stating that "Osama bin Laden could not have scripted this film with more conviction [4]." Such criticisms were in turn lambasted by many who saw them as nothing more than an attempt to "shoot down" any point of view which differed from that of a mainstream angle.[citation needed]

[edit] Trivia

  • Harrison Ford turned down the role of Robert Barnes, regretting it later, stating, "I didn't feel strongly enough about the truth of the material and I think I made a mistake".
  • The scene depicting Marbella (Spain), is actually filmed at the Royal Mirage hotel in Dubai, UAE.
  • George Clooney injured himself filming the torture scene, requiring spinal cap surgery to stop fluid from leaking from his spinal column.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Nominations

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rogert Ebert's review of Syriana
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Syriana official website
  4. ^ Stephen Gaghan's discussion with The Washington Post in November 2005

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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