'Syriana' takes on one of the most important issues of our time: the conflict between American oil interests and the powers of the Middle East. The task proves too much and we are left with a film that buckles under the weight of its own intricacies.
I enjoy films that offer complicated plots. The problem with 'Syriana' is that its level of complexity exceeds its capacity for coherence. There are long stretches of unintelligibility, where it is nigh impossible to determine exactly what is going on or how it relates to the movie as a whole.
Another of 'Syriana's' shortcomings lies in its ensemble cast. The difficulty is not the ensemble cast itself, however; this is a story that demands the use of multiple characters. Rather, the problem is the size of the ensemble. We are presented with numerous parallel stories whose relations between one another do not become clear until the very end. With this bevy of narratives comes the sacrifice of character depth. The film attempts to add dimension to its characters by providing unnecessary conflicts. The fact that Bennett Holiday's father is an alcoholic is utterly irrelevant to the plot; it is included for the sole purpose of adding depth to an otherwise boring character. Bob Barnes' son exists for no reason other than to illustrate the tension in Barnes' family. The death of Bryan Woodman's son serves a similar purpose: to provide conflict between Woodman, his wife, and the royal family.
'Syriana' is not without its positives, however. The acting is first- rate across the board, and the parts that do make sense are quite captivating. It is also unsettling when one realizes that the basic premise is not at all far-fetched. But on the whole, 'Syriana' is a disappointment.
I enjoy films that offer complicated plots. The problem with 'Syriana' is that its level of complexity exceeds its capacity for coherence. There are long stretches of unintelligibility, where it is nigh impossible to determine exactly what is going on or how it relates to the movie as a whole.
Another of 'Syriana's' shortcomings lies in its ensemble cast. The difficulty is not the ensemble cast itself, however; this is a story that demands the use of multiple characters. Rather, the problem is the size of the ensemble. We are presented with numerous parallel stories whose relations between one another do not become clear until the very end. With this bevy of narratives comes the sacrifice of character depth. The film attempts to add dimension to its characters by providing unnecessary conflicts. The fact that Bennett Holiday's father is an alcoholic is utterly irrelevant to the plot; it is included for the sole purpose of adding depth to an otherwise boring character. Bob Barnes' son exists for no reason other than to illustrate the tension in Barnes' family. The death of Bryan Woodman's son serves a similar purpose: to provide conflict between Woodman, his wife, and the royal family.
'Syriana' is not without its positives, however. The acting is first- rate across the board, and the parts that do make sense are quite captivating. It is also unsettling when one realizes that the basic premise is not at all far-fetched. But on the whole, 'Syriana' is a disappointment.