Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Interests > Tilted Entertainment


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 11-29-2005, 10:52 AM   #1 (permalink)
lascivious
 
Mantus's Avatar
 
Syriana - your reviews

I was trying to figure out what happened to the film they advertised because this clearly isn't it.

Syriana touches on a very important and powerful theme. The coruption and cuckoldry between govenment and Oil and the supplication of the Middle East to their intrests.

The plot is rather black and white. Evil govenment, evil Oil, evil Middle Eastern leaders preventing the good people of the middle east from obtaining democracy and prosperity. The suicide bombers are driven to do what they do (though in the movie they don't take any inocent lives) by the evil forces.

I'll give the editors a big thumbs up. The pace of the film was great. If any scene in the film was a second longer I would have got bored but the story progressed wonderfuly and kept one engaged even though it was very base.

I am still not quite sure if the acting was terrible or briliant. I've never seen character interaction have this little energy. Every scene is totaly drained of energy and because of that you had the ability to analize and take in the relevance of the event rather then being lead along emotionally. However, the lack of chemestry between all the various characters in the plot made their development rather difficult. We judge people not only on their actions but on other's reaction to them. This lack of deapth requires the use of imagination to finish the character portraits.

This film is certainly not Traffic.

In the end I don't know how I should rate it. It's a very narrow portrail of the situation in the Middle East so I can't recomend it as an educational film. The vaguness of it doesn't really drive one to action but rather a feeling of "it's all messed up, there is no hope". It's not an action flick. It lacks any powerful drama. I would say to rent it but you might fall asleep on your couch, atleast in the theater you are forced to watch (might as well get your moneys worth).

Thats my take.
Mantus is offline  
Old 12-06-2005, 07:16 PM   #2 (permalink)
Getting it.
 
Charlatan's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
I enjoyed the film. I thought it's portrayal of the issues that are alive and well in the Middle East today were well played.

It's interesting that you mentioned the low key performances... Now that you mention it yes. They were rather low key. But I felt it suited the film just fine.

No this film isn't Traffic but it is Traffic in its method of telling a story. Multiple plot lines all intersecting around a common theme and ultimately all touching on each other...

I facinated that this film even got made and given the reticence of the US mainstream discourse to even acknowledge that oil plays a large factor in their adventures in the Middle East I will not be surprised if this film gets swept under the carpet.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
Charlatan is offline  
Old 12-10-2005, 10:11 PM   #3 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Carno's Avatar
 
I liked the movie. It showed many of the different facets of the Middle East situation, and really illustrated what a clusterfuck the whole thing is.

I think the lack of emotional attachment to the characters is intentional, and necessary, so that viewers will actually analyze the situation and not be lead by their emotions. Whether or not it was intentional, it allowed the viewer to sit back and understand why everything is the way it is without their emotions getting in the way.

Last edited by Carn; 12-10-2005 at 10:16 PM..
Carno is offline  
Old 12-10-2005, 10:30 PM   #4 (permalink)
Insane
 
I didn't like the movie at all. I thought the pacing was slow and disjointed. There were too many story lines with not enough conjunction. I have to admit the only reason keeping me there was Matt Damon. While I am not an action movie junkie, this movie just seemed to be trying too hard to be thoughtful.
__________________
"Mommy, the presidents are squishing me!"

"Using the pull out method of contraceptive is like saying I won't use a seat belt, I'll just jump out of the car before it hits that tree."

Sara
ColonelSpecial is offline  
Old 12-10-2005, 10:45 PM   #5 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Carno's Avatar
 
I don't think the plot lines needed to intersect any more than they did. The Middle East situation is not one that is easily understood or pigeon-holed. There are many factors working that make the situation what it is, and not all of them are directly related. There aren't really any cohesive fronts; that's why it's such a big clusterfuck.
Carno is offline  
Old 12-11-2005, 06:35 AM   #6 (permalink)
Getting it.
 
Charlatan's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
I think if this had been made for television like the original Traffic it would have been a lot stronger. We are a lot more forgiving of character development in television. Of course, it would never have been commissioned in the US (at least by a broadcaster that could afford to make it -- the original Traffik was made in 1989 for UK broadcaster Channel 4).

The story and characters might have been better served that they were in a two hour and eight minute film.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
Charlatan is offline  
Old 12-11-2005, 09:23 AM   #7 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Carno's Avatar
 
I've never seen Traffic, so I can't compare it to that..

Are people more forgiving of the lack of character development in TV because it's a series, or just it being on TV? Are you talking about full length movies on TV, or mini series'?

Last edited by Carn; 12-11-2005 at 09:31 AM..
Carno is offline  
Old 12-11-2005, 09:59 AM   #8 (permalink)
Getting it.
 
Charlatan's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
I was talking about a mini-series.

Television, being a different medium allows for a more sedate pace and different structure. For example, look at Lost, we are slowly being introduced to characters over time. Or another example, a feature film is (typically) structured around a three act structure while one hour of television is (typically) structured around a five-act structure.

The different expectations and structures of the different media lead us to have different expectations.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
Charlatan is offline  
Old 12-11-2005, 05:12 PM   #9 (permalink)
...is a comical chap
 
Grasshopper Green's Avatar
 
Location: Where morons reign supreme
I just got back from Syriana. It's been a long, long time since a movie evoked intense emotion from me, but this one did the trick. I know this was a work of fiction, but as I drove home, I really wondered how shady the behind the scenes dealings really are and how much of the film could actually have somewhat touched on truth. Perhaps I'm just paranoid.

As for the acting...I think it was great and suited the movie well. I particularly think the man who played the elder royal brother did a fantastic job. The only part I really didn't like was the part with the lawyer and his father...it had nothing to do with the story and just seemed like it was thrown in there for the hell of it.
__________________
"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa
Grasshopper Green is offline  
Old 12-11-2005, 05:16 PM   #10 (permalink)
Getting it.
 
Charlatan's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa99
I know this was a work of fiction, but as I drove home, I really wondered how shady the behind the scenes dealings really are and how much of the film could actually have somewhat touched on truth. Perhaps I'm just paranoid.
It isn't that far from the truth and that isn't paranoia. Big Oil and their government friends have been screwing with the Middle East for a long time.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
Charlatan is offline  
Old 12-12-2005, 10:29 AM   #11 (permalink)
... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.
 
Willravel's Avatar
 
Best movie I've seen on the subject. Only movie I've seen on the subject, but still quite good.
Willravel is offline  
Old 12-12-2005, 06:24 PM   #12 (permalink)
It's all downhill from here
 
docbungle's Avatar
 
Location: Denver
Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa99
As for the acting...I think it was great and suited the movie well. I particularly think the man who played the elder royal brother did a fantastic job. The only part I really didn't like was the part with the lawyer and his father...it had nothing to do with the story and just seemed like it was thrown in there for the hell of it.
I loved this film. Highest rating. As for the lawyer and his father, I saw that as the film's way of bringing us back to everyday life every once in a while, showing us that all of these people involved in all of this high intrigue are, when you get down to it, just people like the rest of us. With wives and kids and alcoholic dads. It was strange to see the things they were involved in lead to a regular night at home with the family.
__________________
Bad Luck City
docbungle is offline  
Old 12-13-2005, 08:39 AM   #13 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Carno's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by docbungle
I loved this film. Highest rating. As for the lawyer and his father, I saw that as the film's way of bringing us back to everyday life every once in a while, showing us that all of these people involved in all of this high intrigue are, when you get down to it, just people like the rest of us. With wives and kids and alcoholic dads. It was strange to see the things they were involved in lead to a regular night at home with the family.
Yeah I agree.
Carno is offline  
Old 12-13-2005, 11:57 AM   #14 (permalink)
Upright
 
Location: SLC
I liked this movie. It’s probably the best movie I’ve seen in awhile. As for it being realistic it was inspired by the book See No Evil by former CIA agent Robert Baer, George Clooney’s character Bob Barns. Here is an NPR interview of Robert Baer.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5041385
Gitmo is offline  
 

Tags
reviews, syriana


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:29 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360