Opinion: Confusing ‘Syriana’ still holds audience attention

That lyric works double duty when referring to writer/director Stephen Gaghan’s film “Syriana.”

There are things happening to the characters in the film that are beyond those characters’ comprehension.

And 90 percent of the average viewers will have no idea what is happening in relation to anything else that has happened in the story.

Most of the time, when a plot is as confusing and has as many characters and locales as “Syriana,” it can add up to some really poor movie making.

Not in this case.

“Syriana” is hard to follow, but it is never boring and indeed manages to engage the viewer, no matter how confused.

As a writer, Gaghan explored this fractured narrative style – loaded with an intertwining cast of characters – in his screenplay for Steven Soderbergh’s “Traffic.”

“Traffic” was a better film, but Gaghan is to be applauded not only for his fearless artistic style, but for confronting the current global economic/political climate in a way that may make the “If you aren’t with us, you’re against us” crowd upset.

Some may think Gaghan’s take on things is cynical.

Call me the same, but I believe that what’s going on in the “real world” is probably much scarier.

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

Devotees of talk radio would probably attribute this quote to some lily-livered, left-wing pacifist, conspiracy theorist wacko.

Indeed, it was President Dwight David Eisenhower who spoke those words in his farewell speech to the nation in 1961.

If you didn’t already know, Eisenhower was the pre-eminent U.S. Army General in World War II – hardly a “peacenik.”

Ike’s words were prophetic. Considering the current stream of daily news, his admonitions have all but been ignored.

In “Syriana,” as in Joseph Heller’s “Catch 22,” the lines between all manner of entities in power have become blurred.

Two of the world’s biggest oil companies are planning a merger. The government is against it but will approve if certain heads can be made to roll.

An emir in the Middle East is stepping down.

His kingdom will be turned over to one of his two sons. One is in the West’s pocket.

The other has altruistic visions of using his country’s oil resources to make a better world for the populace. Guess who gets to be the new emir?

Bob Barnes (George Clooney) is a CIA agent who finds himself, somehow, on the wrong side of favor when he questions a covert rocket launcher sale he recently made.

Not only is the CIA unhappy with Barnes for his nose for news, but many other organizations have grudges against him as well. You won’t be biting your nails much after one particular interrogation scene.

Also on hand is the ever-present religious fanatic crowd. Middle Eastern style, that is.

It’s a nerve-wracking subplot to watch two sweet, innocent teens being drawn into the “We do this for God” mindset by a young Islamic cleric who seems to be as sweet and innocent as his pupils.

A collision course builds in the first two acts of “Syriana.”

Don’t worry if you don’t quite know what is going on. (Anyone who actually does is no doubt a CIA operative.)

The plots crash together late in the final act, and while much of the water remains muddy, some things become evident.

This thing will be a huge seller when released on DVD. It bears – actually it seems to REQUIRE – multiple viewings.

It’s as timely as the daily news, makes about as much sense and is no more cheerful.

Even though it’s confusing, the powerful ideals outlined in the film tend to act as a glue that holds the audience’s attention.

Sometime down the road, I suspect “Syriana” will be considered a classic of turn-of-the-21st-century cinema.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.