Syriana – Sept. 20th

Our movie this week brings us back to the present day and current issues and problems in the world. However, we will still see a lot of the themes from the past few movies present in Syriana. Syriana deals with the global influences on the oil industry, and particularly the way in which both the United States government and U.S. corporations are involved in trying to control and profit from this industry. The movie is loosely based off of a book written by a former CIA agent. George Clooney won an Academy Award for his role as a CIA agent in the film, and the script was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Matt Damon, Chris Cooper (American Beauty, The Bourne Identity), Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale), and Amanda Peet also star in the film. Syriana was named as one of the top films of 2005 by many of the top film critics. This film is from the same filmmakers that made the movie Traffic, which won academy awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Things to watch for and think about:

• What is happening and why? (the movie’s plot is quite complex)
• Corruption (is anyone not corrupt in the film?)
• Do we sympathize with any of the characters?
• What is the problem in this film?
• What should we take away from this movie?
• Is the movie anti-American?
• Are the portrayals of terrorists, oil companies, the CIA, and the U.S. government just your typical cliches?

For a more general look at the U.S. government’s relationship with the Middle East, Islam, and Oil, take a look at this article by Tim Mitchell, a professor at New York University.

Watch the trailer below or here.

This was a complicated film with a lot of messages. You must have something to say…

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