Syriana is a political thriller that unfolds against the intrigue of the global oil industry. From the players brokering back-room deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film's multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power. As a career CIA operative (George Clooney) begins to uncover the disturbing truth about the work he has devoted his life to, an up-and-coming oil broker (Matt Damon) faces an unimaginable family tragedy and finds redemption in his partnership with an idealistic Gulf prince (Alexander Siddig). A corporate lawyer (Jeffrey Wright) faces a moral dilemma as he finesses the questionable merger of two powerful U.S. oil companies, while across the globe, a disenfranchised Pakistani teenager (Mazhar Munir) falls prey to the recruiting efforts of a charismatic cleric. Each plays their small part in the vast and complex system that powers the industry, unaware of the explosive impact their lives will have upon the world.

The funny thing is shortly after seeing the movie I got into an argument with someone who did not want to see the movie because he was afraid it would make fun of armed forces or belittle what they do that spoke home to me about the movie and our own political climate surrounding us. Long gone is the days of the Cold War when we knew who the enemy was without a shadow of a doubt now out days are filled with dread and doubt about who the real enemy is anymore. The movie uncovers with powerful emotion the true political climate and wars being fought that we may not even know about. Its money and greed that drive our enemies and our allies and its is the oil industry that has the most money and in the end the most greed. The movie is an eye opening look at how the lives of those who are trying to do good and the lives of those only interested in making a quick dollar can intermingle and have effects on the entire world. I don’t know how you cannot walk from this movie not feeling somewhat disturbed and moved by what you saw happening on the screen. The next time you feel up for gas it may dawn on you that lives are being lost to bring you that fuel and that eventually numerous wars will be fought over such a simple commodity unless we find another source to replace it. It doesn’t belittle the armed forces or the CIA agents in some ways it raises them to a new plateau of respect for all they do for us.

This is not really a cast driven movie, its more of an ensemble of little parts that make up the whole. The story is the most important thing about the movie and each of the characters and actors make up a little piece of a much bigger piece of artwork. Like a quilt each patch is just as important as the next. George Clooney gives you what is must be like for a CIA agent doing the same job for twenty years must feel as the enemy has changed and they might not have. Matt Damon is the advisor through tragedy finds himself in compromising positions and must make an ethical judgment how on far he can use that tragedy. Jeffrey Wright also faces ethical and moral dilemmas as to whether the merging of two oil giants is really that good for the country and himself or whether its all just about the money. The movies asks a lot of questions and has few answers, it us up to you and me to find those answers because it is in our own welfare and that of our country to answer the questions, is all this oil worth all the blood spilt for it?
4 stars out of 5