SYRIANA: A REVIEW.

Syriana is a multifaceted thriller centred on the fictional connections between terrorism and the international oil business. The story revolves around the merger of two oil companies and the sale of anti-aircraft missiles on the middle eastern black market, and the effect of these events on those with the most to lose. Set in motion is a series of devastating events for all those involved. From america to the middle east and back the oil and blood is on everyones hands.

The writer and director Stephen Gaghan teams up with previous collaborator Steven Soderbergh (here in the role of executive producer) to bring to the screen an adaptation of Robert Baer's book 'See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism'. This time the team tackles big oil and international terrorism (having examined the North American drug wars in the sublime TRAFFIC) and tackle it they do with force. In an effort to avoid the obvious sports analogy I shall say that this film comes so close to being a resounding success on all fronts.

The odd thing though is that Syriana's most appealing aspect is simultaneously it most alienating. As stated previously Syriana is a multifaceted film this is however somewhat of a misnomer, it is rather a dodecahedron of a movie. In modern Hollywood it is hard to get so many perspective on such a pertinent subject, problem is that their is so much being presented. With so many story arcs and within each of these a multitude of characters, allusions and messages (both obvious and implicit), and so it take concentration and alertness to get it all. Even after one viewing I had trouble remembering half of the character names but could recall their stories and actions if a little inefficiently. Their actions were more important than their names.

George Clooney and Matt Damon (the most notable and recognisable cast members) each present nuanced and torn characters on opposite ends of the spectrum. Clooney plays a CIA agent used unwittingly in a Washington/middle east power struggle and Damon, a wealthy financial advisor and devoted family man. Each character experiences terrible loss in separate events but are soon lead on a path destined to cross on a number of occasions. They are sympathetic characters that demand attention on screen for their purpose to the narrative, no actors egos in the way. It seems obvious that they were both aware of the import of this film in such a sense to not try and overshadow it, they were just right for their respective roles.

Shot and cut in quite a similiar style to Traffic in terms of angles, length of shots, camera movements and frequency of cuts. The cinematography is however quite naturalistic and true to life with not a stylistic filter in sight. This in itself adds to the way in which the story/stories draw you in to its intricate narrative, one is not distracted with over composed shots or mtv style camera movements which is quite often the case. I would like to think Stephen Gaghan was aware of this risk and made a concsious effort to avoid it, given the subject matter an immature stylistic approach would have been quite unsuitable. Gaghan instead reveals a story, sometimes delicately, sometimes heartwrenchingly and at other times explosively, layer by layer presenting no more than necessary for each thread.

One particular story arc deals unapologetically with 2 muslim youths, whom after being made unemployed due to the merger of the two oil companies that employs everyone they know. With nothing to do and building resentment they are soon drawn in an extremist group lead by a charasmatic Imam. From here they are lectured on the evils of the world, some they believe some they do not, but to them the message is clear. This situation is handled with such candid honesty by the filmmaker one can't help but understand and yet the film makes no statements as to the their morality, that is ultimately left up to us. This is a tenth of the what is within Syriana. This film is so full of subtle energy, that if you have the patience it is well worth it. With so much in here even at 126 minutes it is hard to its depth justice.

A rewarding film if yo can make it, Syriana's power is in its realism. Though 100% fictional its near documentary honesty precisely reveals what and when it is necessary to sustain interest. However, alas, this is its undoing as there is so much to take in it is hard to follow the story as precisely and pacefully as it is presented. Syriana is a layered and nuanced film and well worth your time and concentration.

8 out of 10