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Syriana

I actually saw Syriana almost a week ago (last Thursday afternoon), but it was so uninspiring it has taken me this long to get around to mentioning it. With an Oscar-winning performance, and a cast that I generally like (Clooney and Damon are usually reliable, and it's good to see Siddig El Fadil Alexander Siddig again after all these years since Deep Space Nine) I expected this movie to pull 2006 out of its rut. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either.

I'm not sure what I was really expecting from the movie, but it just left me cold. The characters were far from compelling. I don't think I was even aware of any of their names. As for the Oscar: Clooney wasn't even the best supporting actor in the movie, never mind in the whole year. Matt Dillon, the only other contender for that award whose performance I saw, was much better.

Syriana is probably worth seeing when it comes out on video, but it's not worth €6.60 plus popcorn.

Comments:
Tue, 14th Mar 2006 (21:06)

Go see Mirror Mask, Stay or Lucky Number Slevin instead. Those are pretty good. Not breakthrough but certainly pretty good.

by Ronan Lowe
Tue, 14th Mar 2006 (21:17)

I saw that Lucky Number Slevin was out just after I bought the ticket for Syriana. That's right, I waited a month for a halfway decent movie to come out, and then I didn't even check what else was on before I bought the ticket.

Mirrormask looks a bit crap. I like Neil Gaiman (at least, I liked Good Omens and American Gods. I haven't read the rest of his stuff) but I haven't been impressed by any trailers or previews I've seen of it.

Stay doesn't seem to be out at the moment. Is it finished, or is it not out yet?

by Rory
Tue, 14th Mar 2006 (21:22)

I wont say in public how I saw Stay but I have seen it and it is pretty good. It at least keeps you wondering what is happening until the end. Mirror Mask is probably one for people who liked Labyrnth. It's a pity though because I was hoping good things for Syriana.

by Ronan Lowe

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This piece was posted on Tue, 14th Mar 2006 at 20:35.

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