Saturday 1 April 2023

Syriana (2005 Stephen Gaghan & scr)

An extremely complicated film which requires so much attention it's exhausting. Powerful messages about America's involvement in - and effect on - the Middle East, never more pointed than when the 'good' Saudi prince - the one who wants positive reform - is assassinated by US drone. I would have welcomed some simplification here and there.

George Clooney won Oscar as - what? What is his job? It's that kind of problem you have when interpreting this film. Matt Damon, Amanda Peet, Jeffrey Wright, Christopher Plummer, Chris Cooper, Richard Lintern, Alexander Siddig, Amr Waked, Mark Strong, Kayvan Novak, Tim Blake Nelson, Viola Davis. Nicky Henson's in it?

Gaghan wrote Traffic as well.

Photographed hand held by Robert Elswit, edited by Tim Squyres, music from Alexandre Desplat.



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