Everything is connected.
An adaptation of the Robert Baer memoir See no evil: The true story of a ground soldier in the CIA's war on terrorism.
From writer/director Stephen Gaghan, winner of the Best Screenplay academy Award for Traffic, comes Syriana, a political thriller that unfolds against the intrigue of the global oil industry. From the players brokering back-room deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film's multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power.
Career CIA operative Robert Baer (George Clooney) begins to uncover the disturbing truth about the work to which he has devoted his life, up-and-coming oil broker Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) faces an unimaginable family tragedy and finds redemption in his partnership with idealistic Gulf prince Nasir (Alexander Siddig). A corporate lawyer (Jeffrey Wright) faces a moral dilemma as he finesses the questionable merger of two powerful US oil companies, while across the globe, a disenfranchised Pakistani teenager (Mazhar Munir) falls prey to the recruiting efforts of a charismatic cleric. Each plays their small part in the vast and complex system that powers the industry, unaware of the explosive impact their lives will have upon the world.
The title is a geographical term, referring to the Middle East hot spots that have proved so volatile to US security.
Special Agent Matti
Syriana is the kind of film that makes you want to bury your head in the sand. The Military-Industrial Complex™ has taken over the world and there's nothing that the person on the street can do about it. In fact, whatever you do, you're probably shoring up the foundations - that bread you bought at the supermarket is made from wheat grown by an agricultural combine using genetically-modified seed purchased made by the same company that sells chemical weapons to The Military-Industrial Complex™. You're stuffed whatever you do. See also Lord of war.
MA 15+ (Strong violence, coarse language)
127 minutes (2:07 hours)
Film: 16 February 2006
