The movie that won George Clooney a best supporting actor Academy Award is now out on DVD from Warner Bros.
Syriana has several plotlines that each have their own connections. Bob Barnes (George Clooney) is a veteran CIA agent working in Beirut. Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) is a trader from Geneva who is trying to form a partnership with the idealistic Prince Nasir (Alexander Siddig). However, he suffers a personal tragedy that brings him closer to the Prince and costs him his wife (Amanda Peet). Prince Nasir is set back by his brother Prince Meshal (Akbar Kurtha). Jimmy Pope (Chris Cooper) runs Killen oil that is attempting to merge with Connex oil. Dean Whiting (Christopher Plummer) is the high powered Washington lawyer charged with handling the merger. Danny Dalton (Tim Blake Nelson) a Texas oilman working with Jimmy Pope. Bennet Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is the lawyer investigating the merger and also having trouble with his father.
While all these plots are unfolding, a young Pakistani teenager (Mazhar Munir) is unemployed and being recruited by a cleric. Then there’s the mysterious Stan (William Hurt). By the end of the picture, all of these plot lines are connected in some way.
Syriana is complex but pays off in the end in a fascinating film about the oil industry in the Middle East and the spying and wrangling that goes on behind the scenes (at least in this fictional account). George Clooney put on the pounds for the role to become the CIA agent who is past his prime (a sure fire way to get the Academy’s attention). Christopher Plummer is excellent, as usual.
Barnes on assignment
Alexander Saddig also stands out as the idealistic sheik. I really felt for Damon’s character and was moved by the tragedy that is the catalyst to get him into the sheik’s orbit. The ensemble cast is wonderful. However, I have the feeling that depending on which side of the political fence you fall on will affect your enjoyment of the film. I attempted to push politics aside and just judge the movie on entertainment value - might be wrong about doing that though. I found the story fascinating, but considered it a work of fiction. My fascination tended toward the way the plot unfolded.
Special features include the 9 minute featurette “A Conversation with George Clooney.” Clooney compares the film to a film from the 1970s that brings light to geo-political issues. He discusses how the star of the film is the screenplay and how the stars wanted to be in the film because of the screenplay. He even gets to meet the real life person (Robert Baer, ex-CIA operative and the author of the book on which the screenplay was based) on which his character is based.
The next is an 11 minute featurette called “Make a Change, Make a Difference” that discuss the politics behind the film and point you towards a website. It has interviews with George Clooney, Matt Damon, writer/director Stephen Gaghan, consultant Stephen MacSearraigh, author Robert Baer, actor Jeffrey Wright, producer Jennifer Fox, actor Alexander Siddig, and executive producer Jeff Skoll. Next are 3 deleted scenes totaling about 5 minutes, the majority of which involve scenes with Barnes’ wife. Finally there’s the theatrical trailer.
Woodman and Prince Nasir
I found Syriana an interesting film and liked how all the different plots converged by the finale. However, I can see how people of a certain political mind will either love or hate the film. George Clooney definitely played against type in this role and won the Academy Award for it. I’d recommend it for a rental at least to see Clooney’s award winning turn.
Syriana is now available at Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a July 10th release date. Visit the DVD's database for more information.
Your Talkback on this Story