"Syriana" will go down in history as the movie that granted George Clooney an Oscar for Best-Supporting Actor, but thanks (I'm sure) to the wrong people in the wrong positions… it will be squelched everywhere else. To begin with, the story involves a fictional look at the oil industry and, in part the role our government plays in protecting its interests. Note that I say that it protects the interests of the oil industry, and not the American people. The screenplay may be fictional, but the greed that runs rampant in the higher echelons of our nation, are not.

Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana" is very similar to his earlier screenplay of the movie "Traffic", in that it tells separate stories about different people, with all of the stories eventually overlapping to deliver what is known as 'the big picture.' One of the stories involves an undercover C.I.A. agent (George Clooney) who sells some missiles to contacts in Iran, and winds up in the middle of far more shadier dealings than he initially bargains for. Another focuses on an employee for a Swiss investment company (Matt Damon) whose firm is trying hard to get into bed (figuratively of course) with a Middle Eastern oil baron. A third story follows a lawyer from Washington DC (Jeffrey Wright) whose job it becomes to analyze an upcoming oil merger, while another deals with a high ranking U.S. government official (Christopher Plummer) who makes sure the rich and powerful 'get what they want.'

But these are just the tip of the iceberg of the storylines that are thrown into the mix. Every character, no matter how little screen time they get is as important to the overall plot as every other. And as such, the acting is superb throughout. Clooney certainly deserved his win (though he also deserved to win Best Director for "Good Night and Good Luck"), but his performance is not the only great one. Bypassing the obvious great performances (Damon, Plummer, etc…), I'd like to call attention to Alexander Siddig, who plays one of the Emir's sons (and one of the heirs to the oilfields). I was so used to seeing him as Dr. Bashir on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", that I was sure it would be difficult to separate him from that role. However, he already turned in a greatly overlooked (though small) performance in 'Reign of Fire", and I really hope he will more noticed here. Siddig is a really good actor and if this does not lead to bigger roles, there is no justice in Hollywood.

Through it all, Gaghan does a great job in making sure we get enough information during the brief screen time each of these stories get to make sure we understand it all when they come together. This isn’t to say that you don’t have to pay attention as absolutely you do. "Syriana" is not for the casual moviegoer looking for simplicity. The plot is very complex, but the payoff is extraordinary.

What is so scary about this film is (as I mentioned before) that while the overall plot is a piece of fiction, what it represents is very, very real. Greed and corruption are nothing new in our government, but we live in a time where we really need to being to question who is in power and where their interests lie. Long ago, our government gave up being 'for the people' and it is now run by the big companies. Even as I write this, there are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters dying in a foreign land for a fictionalized ideal. People are getting rich off their deaths as sure as I am sitting here.

Unfortunately, a film like "Syriana" works both for and against itself. Those who already realize at least a part of the truth of what is happening in our government will see the film and it will help strengthen their resolve (a side effect that our government will hate). But the far greater audience will see it as 'only a movie' and believe things like this only happen in movies so they will continue to look the other way (the side effect of disinformation our government loves). My hope is the people will eventually wake up to the realities and reprehensible actions that are going on behind the closed doors of many of our country's richest people and say it has to stop. But I digress.

To get back to the point, Warner Brothers is releasing a nice little DVD package for "Syriana" this week, which includes a very telling and intelligent conversation with George Clooney (who by the way, gave one of the greatest speeches at the Academy Awards this year), a few deleted scenes and a featurette that paints a broader picture of the truths that are presented in the film. In it, both the cast and members of the crew share their thoughts of the direction we are heading which are punctuated by using some clips from the film.

"Syriana" is a film that I fear will disappear before it has the chance to do its part in making a the difference that our country… and even our world, so desperately needs. I challenge you to prove me wrong.

Directed by: Stephen Gaghan
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, William Hurt, Mazhar Munir, Tim Blake Nelson, Amanda Peet, Christopher Plummer, Alexander Siddig
Extras: Additional Scenes, Featurette: Make a Change, Make a Difference, Interviews: Conversation with George Clooney
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: 6/20/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (For Violence and Langauge)
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We'll give Syriana an A.