Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
A Movie about Arab Rulers and the U.S.
You probably have a hint, it is Syriana!
The movie will open soon, December 9th.
ADC attended an advance screeing of Syriana and wrote the following:
ADC Attends Advanced Screening of ?Syriana?
December 8, 2005
Washington, DC -- Yesterday, The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) participated in an advanced screening of the political thriller "Syriana," a harsh critique of the US role in the Middle East, the relationship between the US and Arab rulers, and, above all, the scheming of the petroleum industry and its corrupting influence on both American and Arab governments.
The film, loosely based on the book written by Bob Baer "See no Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism," was followed by a discussion with Baer, as well as screenwriter and director Stephen Gaghan.
?Syriana?s? plot is complex, with interweaving subplots that leave many questions unanswered. Prevailing from the confusion however, is a serious examination of the US dependence on Middle East oil, and the willingness of the US to intervene in Arab states using any means necessary, as well as corruption in both regions.
In the world of ?Syriana,? Arabs and South Asians, including a royal prince and a Pakistani laborer, are multi dimensional characters with complex motives and personal experiences. At one point Julie Woodman, played by Amanda Peet, who is the wife of an energy consultant says of Arabs, "They really are family oriented." Viewers also experience the visceral reactions, which are negative as well as positive, to Arab culture through the eyes of various American characters.
The overriding plot does not vilify the Arab world, its people, religions, or cultures, but rather creates a world in which evil feeds off of itself, much to the detriment of Arab and American societies. Money determines everything, and individuals, including oil company executives, Arab princes and covert CIA operatives, are expendable.
?Syriana? is an entertaining, if not always completely lucid, thriller, representing many of the anxieties in post-9/11 America. It represents a commendable effort to deal seriously with numerous troubling aspects of the relationship between US and Arab societies, and as such is highly recommended by ADC.
?Syriana? will open on Friday December 9, 2005 nationwide. For more information about the movie and screening times, click here:
syrianamovie.warnerbros.com/index.html
I am going to watch this movie, are you?
The movie will open soon, December 9th.
ADC attended an advance screeing of Syriana and wrote the following:
ADC Attends Advanced Screening of ?Syriana?
December 8, 2005
Washington, DC -- Yesterday, The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) participated in an advanced screening of the political thriller "Syriana," a harsh critique of the US role in the Middle East, the relationship between the US and Arab rulers, and, above all, the scheming of the petroleum industry and its corrupting influence on both American and Arab governments.
The film, loosely based on the book written by Bob Baer "See no Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism," was followed by a discussion with Baer, as well as screenwriter and director Stephen Gaghan.
?Syriana?s? plot is complex, with interweaving subplots that leave many questions unanswered. Prevailing from the confusion however, is a serious examination of the US dependence on Middle East oil, and the willingness of the US to intervene in Arab states using any means necessary, as well as corruption in both regions.
In the world of ?Syriana,? Arabs and South Asians, including a royal prince and a Pakistani laborer, are multi dimensional characters with complex motives and personal experiences. At one point Julie Woodman, played by Amanda Peet, who is the wife of an energy consultant says of Arabs, "They really are family oriented." Viewers also experience the visceral reactions, which are negative as well as positive, to Arab culture through the eyes of various American characters.
The overriding plot does not vilify the Arab world, its people, religions, or cultures, but rather creates a world in which evil feeds off of itself, much to the detriment of Arab and American societies. Money determines everything, and individuals, including oil company executives, Arab princes and covert CIA operatives, are expendable.
?Syriana? is an entertaining, if not always completely lucid, thriller, representing many of the anxieties in post-9/11 America. It represents a commendable effort to deal seriously with numerous troubling aspects of the relationship between US and Arab societies, and as such is highly recommended by ADC.
?Syriana? will open on Friday December 9, 2005 nationwide. For more information about the movie and screening times, click here:
syrianamovie.warnerbros.com/index.html
I am going to watch this movie, are you?
Comments on this journal
Conducting Business
Conversation between Al Walid Bin Talal & his son :
Walid : I want you to marry a girl of my choice
Son : "I will choose my own bride!"
Walid : "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son : "Well, in that case...ok"
Next Walid approaches Bill Gates.
Walid : "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Walid : "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"
Finally Walid goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Walid : "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."
President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Walid : "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"
This is how business is done!!
I would guess we didnt see anything about the oil for food program because thats not what the film was about... why didnt it include issues about the diamond trade and israel? same reason... sure they may be connected somehow, but was it relevant to the 2 hour storyline? Remember this is a film portraying a portion of reality, not a comprehensive doctoral dissertation or a large scale assessment of politics and energy supply.
I hesitate to go down the "conspiracy theory" road on this one to say that there was something "hidden" against the Arab viewpoint... the film was fair handed and until Arabs can see their own flaws and quit putting the divisions in the Middle East and the failure of our leadership on others we're just spinning the same wheel. The movie raised the question of Arab leadership not being effective- as it was bolstered by American business and policy makers to remain ineffective... As much as we dislike Israeli policy, not every failure in the region has to do with them. Not every film needs to include Israel, or the oil for food program.... that'd be a 15 hour movie at least...
I said it and I will say it again. THE BAD OF THE AMERICANS WAS MINIMAL.
Why we didn't see anything about Israel there. How about the divestment motion, how about Iraq and the oil exchange for food program... many issues were hidden which makes me think there is a reason behind it.
Hollywood profiles even evil but this is not new. Wait till you watch Munich, ha!
I see your point, but I disagree that "the bad of the Americans was minimal"... I think the majority of the film was focused on American corruption... remember the guy who was talking about the "necessity of corruption"... the guy down in Texas with the shady dealings, the Department of Justice prosecutor who was basically unable to act...
Fundamental issues were exposed on both sides, especially for the Americans. Now I will definitely say that I wish they had gone more in depth on the relationship of oil prices for example (relate it to the average american)... more on the "overpriced planes from seattle" because a congressman's constituents are out of a job... thats the kind of stuff I think would relate to an audience better. Regardless, I was pleased with the film.
Atabbara, I am glad we see the same thing :) ( almost)
Do Not donate!
1- Narnia is a PG movie, plus its a kids friendly movie.
2-Syriana is an R rated movie wit heavy subject matter.
I would compare it with movies like Traffic or Crash rather than with Narnia.
3- Syrina was released in 1752 theatres compared with 3616 for Narnia.
Honestly I thought that the box office return weren't bad for Syriana but not very positive also.
THe arabic spoken was horrible except offcourse from arabic speaking actors.
One of things I loved though was how perfect the arabic was. The characters spoke fluent arabic with the proper accent (although Clooney's attempt to speak Arabic was just a disaster). The other thing I loved was how the cinematic portrayal of the Gulf was dead on. It really reminded me of back home.
This is the Bio of Prince Nasser's (Alexander Siddig or Siddig El Fathil).
1- The portrail of the arab monarchies and Hizb Allah, and the treatment of the labors is accurate 100%. I was totally surprised by the accuracy to the point I think that an insider within one of the monarchies in the Gulf gave an account of the ins-and- outs.
As for poor pakistani labor or indian treated like that well thats accurate.
2- I don't know about the poor labor from pakistan turn into a jihadist like that, but generaly the transition made sence.
3- CORRUPTION- thats what the movie is about, and u will see it in every entity that try to control the power, from the US government to the manipulation of minds of the poor labor.
4- The acting was ok, nothing special except that I was impressed with the guys that did the arab princes ( Both of them, even the king was not bad at all.
Damon could have done better because if he had a kid in real life he would reflect more emotion. Clooney was good. So were Chris Cooper.
5- Overall the movie had a sad ending and I was sad at the end, and remembered why I don't wanna go back to live in the gulf Again unless I have to.