Three Thumbs Up

William Hurt with Clooney, who demands to know why he is being framed

As one watches the movie, three things will hit anyone who lives in a former European colony. The first thing is imperialism. We hear about it and read about it, yet still many refuse to accept it. This movie drives the idea home by completely shattering the illusion in which most of us live — that somehow colonization and imperialism are dead in today's world. Most of the Europeans did it — the British, the French, the Dutch, and to a certain extent the Italians and Germans.

The colonialists went into countries as traders and then used their connections with their own governments, military forces, and intelligence services to either influence policy in these countries or to completely dictate policies by installing puppet governments in those countries with the strings pulled in London or Paris or some other European capital.

During the Cold War, there were two players. Now it appears there are two again — America and China — as the film indicates, apart from the fact that America is a former colony of Great Britain, it has learned its lessons well and has been replicating the colonialist model in the Middle East. This time though, it is not the British East India Company and Scotland Yard behind the scenes, but rather is it the military–industrial complex of the US — that is the American oil corporations, the American arms industry, and the CIA — who do the dirty work for America. The only things that have changed are the location and the fact that technology is not clumsy anymore, it now produces hi-tech assassination methods.

The second thing is the reality of the "War on Terror." This eye-opening film proves that such a thing doesn't exist and that the "War on Terror" is actually a "War of Interests." You are made to realize that despite the September 11 bombings, the reason why the US and its "coalition of the willing" chose to invade Iraq and are now plotting to invade Iran rather than capture Osama bin Laden, is because they choose to do so and not because they cannot.

There is some clever wordplay in the movie with the names of the two US Oil Corporations called Connex and Killen which makes you smile as the names suggest "Con X" and "Killing." Moreover, when the corporations merge and become Killen-Connex, the director seems to suggest that all these huge American oil corporations do is kill and con. This was ripe with satire because we see them killing and conning as the events progress. Full points to Stephen Gaghan on this one.

The third fact is that this Hollywood movie, while it does talk about the Middle East, never even refers to — let alone justify — issues in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This is refreshing, as it seems the Americans have finally come to understand that not all problems of the Middle East are about the Palestinian question, as is usually portrayed.

The film is not without faults. One fault is the subtle suggestion that somehow immigrant laborers from South Asia, especially Pakistan, upon loss of their jobs are brainwashed and turned into suicide bombers for the Arabs. This doesn't hold, especially after the story shows Wasim and his father dreaming to bring Wasim's mother to this Middle Eastern country.

It is commonly known that laborers from South Asia, especially oil rig workers, are not only treated shabbily but also cannot buy a piece of land or bring their families to live. While this may cut ice with an American and European audience, it is highly irritating and objectionable to stereotype Pakistani workers as suicide bombers who, given the choice of deportation or death, choose death in a foreign land to fight for someone else's cause. Why not show a poor Arab instead? Demonizing South Asians is not a good idea.

The other fault is the lack of fleshing out the Chinese connection in the shady oil deals in West Asia. The role of the Chinese was underplayed. At the same time one wonders how the visionary Prince Nasir decides to do business with the Chinese government, which is known for being ruthless with its citizens, despite its talk of democracy and freedom.

However, all details considered, Stephen Gaghan has managed to tell the story well. Despite its shortcomings, this is not a typical feel-good Hollywood movie. Nor is it about Islam-bashing, as seen in Not without My Daughter. The movie doesn't pander to any side and remains pragmatic about the secret world of oil, the corruption and the ruthlessness of the power players, and the pawns that are controlled in the great oil game.

Viewing this movie will make you wonder about your own consumer role that makes all these people's lives possible. It certainly made me want to go out and buy an electric car. I am looking into it and hope to buy one shortly.

Syriana is not a complex film, nor is it a political thriller as labeled — unless corporate, mafia-like assassinations can be termed as such — but rather it is an intriguing, timely, effective, powerful, and addictive film that makes you want to see it more than once.