Sunday, January 08, 2006
Subject Cinema
From now on I would posting in this blog. Issues, suggestions and discussions related to cinema/plots/screen plays etc.. This would be mostly my personal excercise at thinking outloud. Today's topic being discussion on "Syriana"-s plot.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about the word Syriana. It is not registered as a word in dictionary.
"In study of the international relations of the Middle East, Syriana
is used both to refer to Syria (as in Pax Syriana), and in other
contexts as an arbitrary label for hypothetical countries with varying
degrees of resemblance to Syria.
Pax Syriana is Latin for "Syrian peace", modelled after Pax Romana and
Pax Britannica. It usually refers to the period from 1990 to April
2005 of reduced conflict within Lebanon being under the influence of
Syrian hegemony and military occupation. It may be used with emphasis
on the relative calm following suppression of the Lebanese Civil War,
or on suggestions of Syria's having intentions for annexing Lebanon."
In relation to the concerned movie, especially since the movie does
not really talk about specific country (only vague resemblances to
Saudia Arabia/Syria) besides Lebanon (where Clooney gets his arse
kicked), Iran (where the stinger missile exchanges hand along with the
destruction of the illegal distribution cell at the beginning of the
movie) and Khazakistan, it makes sense to have a name like this.
Now about the plot. I think Gaghan's work flow principle like in
Traffic (he was the script writer for Traffic) is fairly
straight-jacketed. He wants to overwhelm the viewers with a plethora
of seemingly unrelated events distributed across all sorts of spaces
possible ( chronological, geographical, emotional, political ). These
spaces cris-cross at many layers and they don't at others.
From the plot point of view here's what is happening (This is
completely from the top of my head ... I have to see the movie again
to fill a couple of the holes ... also I am not so sure about the
sequence of events).
Bob Barnes (Clooney) working for CIA destroys an illegal arms
trafficing cell in Iran. In doing so a stinger missile exchanges hand
(beyond his control).
Connex looses an oil rigging deal against a Chinese company. The
higher management/owner seeks a merger with a smaller oil company
(Killen) as an attempt to keep up it's oil production pressure. Killen
had bought it's way into Khazakistan. The merger of Connex and Kellin
comes into the radar of justice department who wants the merger to
happen while they want some answers as well. Especially in relation to
Killen's procurement of drilling rights. Mind it everybody wants the
merger to happen, they just want names .. any name ... somebody to
point to ... This where Bennet (the black lawer) comes into the
picture who is the liaison person for a law firm who is undertaking
the task of scrutinizing. His relationship with his estranged father
is most likely the embodiment of his conscience which he is ignoring
yet acutely aware of. Thereby highlighting his conflict ... ambition
and morality.
The cessation of connex activity in the land of Prince Nassir and his
brother leaves the Pakistani laborers work-less. They strive for
employment living in inhuman conditions ironically enough for a better
life. The language difference and the fact they are foreigners become
imperative to them. The ambitious young labor (unlike his father who
is nothing more than saddened by the on-going proceedings) knows that
things should be better than the lack of dignity that is inflicted as
an affliction upon them.
Bryan (Matt Damon) works for an energy firm (the firm does higher
level energy consultation work) seeks an affiliation with Nasir and
gang. In course of which he looses his son in a freak accident (lets
ignore amanda peet completely). As a compensation Nasir offers a
dealing to benefit Bryan and his company, which Bryan takes up much to
the dislike of his wife. Bryan to me is the epitomization of the
consiencious western link in the region. The link that wants to work
for the greater common good of the region.
Focus shifts to Nasir, he is learned. He understands his country and
has the earge to make his country better. Unfortunately suffers from
the excessive indulgences that he has obtained as legacy. Yet on an
average he can be summed up as a sensitive man, good man and a person
who should really lead the country. He thinks about women and his idea
about his country's economy is independent of western or more
specifically american vested interest in the region. He is aware of
the amendments (pipeline conversation with Bryan) that can help his
country.
Prince Nasir's brother is a standard jerk. Whiting-big-guy(basically
the american government machinery) woos him for support and pushes him
to be the next king. The old ailing king has little or no say in the
whole affair and gives in to younger son's / western / american
demand.
Bob's positive ideas about his department that of the global good that
CIA is doing is shattered as he is scapegoated, when his mission to
kill prince Nasir goes bad.
Lets dissect the plot here :
Bob goes to Lebanon. Meets an old contact who agrees to help him out.
Immediately after he meets his contact bob goes to meet the Hezbollah
leader to seek his permission (to me the reason ... nothing can be
accomplished without Hezbollah's nodd). The contact back fires (why
???? I don't know) clooney gets kicked on his butt ... timely
intervention of Hezbollah saves him. He goes back to america. The
entire department scapegoats him for the botched operation.
The young Pakistani Laborer and his friend gets dignity at the local
madrasa where food is served with the contrived notion of a western
world that has turned against islam. The same guy we had seen in the
first scene introduces the 2 young guys to the stolen missile. Shot
with the notion of a better after-life (the video of the young
pakistani labor) they set to destroy connex oil rig.
Bob realizes his department's nefarious plans in the area. He tries to
convey matters to Prince Nasir. But fails. CIA gets to Nasir first.
Bennet scapegoats his boss to meet his ambitions. In the end the
justice department gets some name and everyone is happy.
I have left out some small incidents.
This is to me ... the scheme of things in the movie.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about the word Syriana. It is not registered as a word in dictionary.
"In study of the international relations of the Middle East, Syriana
is used both to refer to Syria (as in Pax Syriana), and in other
contexts as an arbitrary label for hypothetical countries with varying
degrees of resemblance to Syria.
Pax Syriana is Latin for "Syrian peace", modelled after Pax Romana and
Pax Britannica. It usually refers to the period from 1990 to April
2005 of reduced conflict within Lebanon being under the influence of
Syrian hegemony and military occupation. It may be used with emphasis
on the relative calm following suppression of the Lebanese Civil War,
or on suggestions of Syria's having intentions for annexing Lebanon."
In relation to the concerned movie, especially since the movie does
not really talk about specific country (only vague resemblances to
Saudia Arabia/Syria) besides Lebanon (where Clooney gets his arse
kicked), Iran (where the stinger missile exchanges hand along with the
destruction of the illegal distribution cell at the beginning of the
movie) and Khazakistan, it makes sense to have a name like this.
Now about the plot. I think Gaghan's work flow principle like in
Traffic (he was the script writer for Traffic) is fairly
straight-jacketed. He wants to overwhelm the viewers with a plethora
of seemingly unrelated events distributed across all sorts of spaces
possible ( chronological, geographical, emotional, political ). These
spaces cris-cross at many layers and they don't at others.
From the plot point of view here's what is happening (This is
completely from the top of my head ... I have to see the movie again
to fill a couple of the holes ... also I am not so sure about the
sequence of events).
Bob Barnes (Clooney) working for CIA destroys an illegal arms
trafficing cell in Iran. In doing so a stinger missile exchanges hand
(beyond his control).
Connex looses an oil rigging deal against a Chinese company. The
higher management/owner seeks a merger with a smaller oil company
(Killen) as an attempt to keep up it's oil production pressure. Killen
had bought it's way into Khazakistan. The merger of Connex and Kellin
comes into the radar of justice department who wants the merger to
happen while they want some answers as well. Especially in relation to
Killen's procurement of drilling rights. Mind it everybody wants the
merger to happen, they just want names .. any name ... somebody to
point to ... This where Bennet (the black lawer) comes into the
picture who is the liaison person for a law firm who is undertaking
the task of scrutinizing. His relationship with his estranged father
is most likely the embodiment of his conscience which he is ignoring
yet acutely aware of. Thereby highlighting his conflict ... ambition
and morality.
The cessation of connex activity in the land of Prince Nassir and his
brother leaves the Pakistani laborers work-less. They strive for
employment living in inhuman conditions ironically enough for a better
life. The language difference and the fact they are foreigners become
imperative to them. The ambitious young labor (unlike his father who
is nothing more than saddened by the on-going proceedings) knows that
things should be better than the lack of dignity that is inflicted as
an affliction upon them.
Bryan (Matt Damon) works for an energy firm (the firm does higher
level energy consultation work) seeks an affiliation with Nasir and
gang. In course of which he looses his son in a freak accident (lets
ignore amanda peet completely). As a compensation Nasir offers a
dealing to benefit Bryan and his company, which Bryan takes up much to
the dislike of his wife. Bryan to me is the epitomization of the
consiencious western link in the region. The link that wants to work
for the greater common good of the region.
Focus shifts to Nasir, he is learned. He understands his country and
has the earge to make his country better. Unfortunately suffers from
the excessive indulgences that he has obtained as legacy. Yet on an
average he can be summed up as a sensitive man, good man and a person
who should really lead the country. He thinks about women and his idea
about his country's economy is independent of western or more
specifically american vested interest in the region. He is aware of
the amendments (pipeline conversation with Bryan) that can help his
country.
Prince Nasir's brother is a standard jerk. Whiting-big-guy(basically
the american government machinery) woos him for support and pushes him
to be the next king. The old ailing king has little or no say in the
whole affair and gives in to younger son's / western / american
demand.
Bob's positive ideas about his department that of the global good that
CIA is doing is shattered as he is scapegoated, when his mission to
kill prince Nasir goes bad.
Lets dissect the plot here :
Bob goes to Lebanon. Meets an old contact who agrees to help him out.
Immediately after he meets his contact bob goes to meet the Hezbollah
leader to seek his permission (to me the reason ... nothing can be
accomplished without Hezbollah's nodd). The contact back fires (why
???? I don't know) clooney gets kicked on his butt ... timely
intervention of Hezbollah saves him. He goes back to america. The
entire department scapegoats him for the botched operation.
The young Pakistani Laborer and his friend gets dignity at the local
madrasa where food is served with the contrived notion of a western
world that has turned against islam. The same guy we had seen in the
first scene introduces the 2 young guys to the stolen missile. Shot
with the notion of a better after-life (the video of the young
pakistani labor) they set to destroy connex oil rig.
Bob realizes his department's nefarious plans in the area. He tries to
convey matters to Prince Nasir. But fails. CIA gets to Nasir first.
Bennet scapegoats his boss to meet his ambitions. In the end the
justice department gets some name and everyone is happy.
I have left out some small incidents.
This is to me ... the scheme of things in the movie.
