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| Syriana (Widescreen Edition) |
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List Price: $28.98
Buy New: $10.25
You Save: $18.73 (65%)
Buy New/Used from $10.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 142 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2
Category: DVD
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Studio: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Label: Warner Home Video
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 128 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 012569807723
EAN: 0012569807723
ASIN: B000F7CMRM
Release Date: June 20, 2006 (New: Last 30 Days)
Theatrical Release Date: December 9, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Syriana is an oil-based soap opera set against the world of global oil cartels. It is to the oil industry as Traffic was to the drug trade (no surprise, since writer/director Stephen Gaghan wrote the screenplay to Traffic): a sprawling attempt to portray the vast political, business, social, and personal implications of a societal addiction, in this case, oil. A major merger between two of the worlds largest oil companies reveals ethical dilemmas for the lawyer charged with making the deal (Jeffrey Wright), and major global implications beyond the obvious; a CIA operative (George Clooney) discovers the truth about his work, and the people he works for; a young oil broker (Matt Damon) encounters personal tragedy, then partners with an idealistic Gulf prince (Alexander Siddig) attempting to build a new economy for his people, only to find hes opposed by powers far beyond his control. Meanwhile, disenfranchised Pakistani youths are lured into terrorism by a radical Islamic cleric. And thats just the start. As in Traffic, in one way or another all of the characters fates are tied to each other, whether they realize it or not, though the connections are sometimes tenuous. While Syriana is basically a good film with timely resonance, it cant quite seem to measure up to Gaghans ambitious vision and it very nearly collapses under the weight of its many storylines. Fortunately they are resolved skillfully enough to keep the film from going under in the end. To some viewers, Syriana will seem like an unfocused and over-loaded film that goes, all at once, everywhere and nowhere. Others will find it to be an important work earnestly exploring major issues. In either case, its a film that deserves to be taken seriously, and its likely to be one that will be talked about for a long time to come. --Dan Vancini
Beyond Syriana
The soundtrack |
More from Participant Productions |
Why We Love Jeffrey Wright |
Starring George Clooney |
Oscar Central |
See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism
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Stills from Syriana (click for larger image)
Description
Big oil means big money. Very big money. And that fact unleashes corruption that stretches from Houston to Washington to the Mideast and ensnares industrialists, princes, spies, politicos, oilfield laborers and terrorists in a deadly, deceptive web of move and countermove. This lightning-paced, whip-smart action thriller grips your mind and nerves with an intensity that doesn't let go for an instant.
DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Featurette:Make a Change, Make a Difference
Interviews:Conversation with George Clooney
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Customer Reviews: Read 137 more reviews...
 I applaud this movie, but it's too complicated June 28, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was anxious as everyone to see this movie, and was captivated by it to an extent, but in the end it was disappointing in its complexity. The ending ties up a few main threads, but there were other storylines introduced that weren't resolved, and I can honestly say I didn't understand the reasoning behind several things that happened. Although I enjoy movies that force you to fill in the pieces and don't explain all the details through dialog, this movie is so vague that one feels lost (some reviewers point out this effectively communicates the immense complexity of the geopolitical oil quagmire, but I
don't share that reaction). I wasn't left with a satisfactory understanding of most of the main players, including the CIA (the lost missiles and the rationale of the Hamas/Iran fiasco), the Justice Dept. and the mercurial motivations of the investigating attorney, and to a lesser extent the whole Kazakhstan affair as it related to the Chineese in the middle east. Maybe I'm old school: although a lot of interesting scenarios were presented, I was disheartened the movie didn't have a more precise message. Side notes: The "corruption" rant was an attention getter, but basically silly and juvenile. Matt Damon's idylic relation with the prince was one of the movies highlights.
"Syriana" is to Global War on Terrorism as "Traffic" is to the War on Drugs June 28, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Gaghan has now made two similar powerful films that have something to say on the more important issues of the current times. That is no small feat. Like Jonathan Swift writing "Gulliver's Travels:" Joseph Heller and "Catch 22; or better yet Don DeLillo writing "Underworld" or "White Noise," Gaghan reveals something that necessarily isn't being said too widespread about modern times and does it in such a way that it is hard not to listen and doubly it's hard not to be engaged and entertained while listening.
The performances are all fine here is "Syriana." A hefty Clooney does quite a turn portraying CIA agent, Bob. Matt Damon is very believable as a family man who gets mixed in the middle through a loss and chain of fate events in the big business in the Middle East that is oil. Jeffrey White as the private lawyer hired by the Department of Justice, Bennett Holiday, perhaps tops them all in a understated, truly believable, lion of a role.
Just as in Gaghan's "Traffic," multiple story lines are woven together to get at the bigger picture that is either the next "Great Game" of energy business or the Global War on Terrorism depending on the way you look at it. So of course the weighty issues of the United States and the international community is, as its always been, economic, religious, historical, violence veiled in power and international relations, but mostly and at the very core of it all...it's about people. "Syriana," finds a way to tell the story of the people that make up the drama of terrorism and the fight against it...of international energy commerce and the people that fight for it, in it, against it, and with it.
There are several silent explosions throughout "Syriana." A Stinger goes off in Iran? A Hellfire missile is lofted from a Predator against a Saudi Emir. A misguided youth guides a small fishing vessel very accurately against an oil tanker (ala the USS Cole) and each explosion brings light. We don't get to hear the big Hollywood boom (thank you Stephen Gaghan) but we do get commentary about how lives rise from the ashes. Matt Damon's character, after a near death experience, gets re-centered and grounded in the importance of family and being there for the ones closest to you, the ones you love. A young man commits suicide for another person's cause with the hope to bring his Mother from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia to be with his father. These are stories that need to be told because these are stories that are happening and wrapped up in our collective current events.
What does Syriana mean? It's an unfortunate named film indeed but what gives it additional intrigue is that the film's script was inspired from Robert Baer's (ex CIA agent) expose book, "See No Evil." It makes you wonder (as does "Traffic") how much of the story line is based on real world events. There may even be an appearance by Condi Rice in the movie...see if you can catch it.
So, this movie is a must see for those that care about the issues that face the modern world. Some may find the multiple story lines off-putting and some may find the political issues a tad boring (my Mother-in-law for one did...whom made it through half the movie with me), but I say watch it. You won't regret you did.
--MMW
One of the Great Movies of 2005 June 28, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a very interesting, very thought provoking movie.
I saw it for the first time in the theatres, and it took me sometime to really "get" what was going on. No question about it - the film is a bit convoluted, and that's why I couldn't give it a full five stars.
But many great movies demand repeated viewings, and this is when "Syriana" pays off. I've now seen the movie quite a few times on DVD, and not only do I understand it far better than I did that first time, but I'm impressed by the many substantive and interconnected stories which the film is telling. The performances are superb and the writing and directing is creative. If nothing else, the film certainly makes you think, and you may not look at the U.S. Government oil policies the same way again....
 Clooney at His Best June 28, 2006
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are pessimistic about the fate of mankind, this film will do nothing to comfort you. The greed and dissimulation of the powermongers in this story can really put a damper on your day. The undeniable propensity for great power and wealth to inexorably corrupt those who have them, that is the most depressing thing. If anything, this film is a warning that unbounded capitalism can likely be as fatal as a fixed market. The rules often cynically restrain the dupes so the knaves can prosper. In the end, the few moral visionaries in the world are squashed in the process. One can only hope that merely a small fraction of the film's premise is actually true, but one cannot help coming away thinking otherwise. Too much of this story is universal at the indiviidual level for it not to be largely true on the scale of corporations and governments. It was written by a CIA insider who knows probably all too well the trade of international machinations and personalities with which he coped.
All the points I've read praising this film are right on the mark. The acting is superb. The film bears watching multiple times--in fact it begs to be watched multiple times. I only want to add to the acclaim that I have never seen Clooney in a more compelling role. There is absolutely no doubt he deserved the highest recognition for his contribution here; this was truly inspired work. Of all the characterizations in this montage of dead-on portrayals, his is the most unforgetable.
 Not like the book June 27, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude by Robert Baer and I really loved it. It gave me a lot of insight on people in the Middle East and it was a real page turner. I assumed his book See No Evil would be similar and that the movie made from it would be exciting and thought provoking. Instead, this came across as a pitch for the liberal agenda.
Every one in the government and big business is evil and if you try to do the right thing like the one Prince tries to do you get removed. Some people think that the head of the oil company is suppose to be like Bush but I some how think they are trying to imply Cheney with the hunting part. I was waiting for Chris Cooper to shoot Jeffery Wright on the hunting trip by accident. In the end he sells out anyway because everyone is looking out for himself or herself.
I guess I didn't understand why the Arabs in the film were so mad at the oil companies because they got laid off. I suppose it was the only job they could get in that part of the country. I don't understand why they just didn't go home, was it even worse there or what? I also didn't believe the fact that these Arabs after a little religious talking turn in to maniocs who want to kill themselves when some religious leader tells them to. I'm sure there must be some like that but after years of indoctrination. These guys just seemed to out of work for 6 months to 1 year.
There were scenes I did like that made me jump like the torture scene with Bob and Jimmy but that was few and far between. I also like the Christopher Plummer role as Dr. Evil.
There seemed to be too many stories going on at the same time to make it interesting enough to follow. If they would have got rid of the Matt Damon character and family and focused more on the background stories of the other characters they could have made this more of an interesting film. They could have added more of espionage plot and make it more believable.
In the scene when George Clooney knows they are targeting the Emir and gets there and just stands around instead of saying get out and hit the deck or something. I also didn't believe that a group at the CIA would cold heartily kill from the command head quarters with a whole group around and no one say this guy has a wife and kid with him. I could see one individual do that but not the whole group. In a group they would have to worry that someone was going to rat them out and they would have to play by some laws.
The deleted scene were limited and showed Bob's wife who I don't seem to remember being in any of the movie. In the talk with Clooney section he seems to try to tell you that they were trying to give an objective view which I think is a bunch of bologna.
I guess I was expecting more of an exciting spy movie.
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Copyright Runningonkarma.com 2006
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