THE 'ENDGAME' AGE OF PETROLEUM: SYRIANA

SATURDAY I WENT TO SEE SYRIANA, STARRING GEORGE CLOONEY.

IT WAS A GOOD SUSPENSE FILM.

IT KEPT ME ON MY TOES BY CUTTING FROM SUBPLOT TO SUBPLOT.

TO SAY THE FILM IS ABOUT OIL DOES NOT DO THE CINEMATOGRAPHY JUSTICE. AFTER VIEWING OIL WELLS, PIPELINES, TANKERS AND STORAGE FACILITIES AS CINEMATIC BACKGROUND DURING THE COURSE OF THE MOVIE, THE OVERALL CINEMATIC EFFECT BECOMES THE MOVIE'S UNSPOKEN STORY: THAT THE OIL EMPIRE IS A COLOSSUS ...AND A LUCRATIVE COLOSSUS, AT THAT.

THE MOVIE IS ABOUT OIL PROFITEERS' ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL POWER GRABS OF THE MOST RUTHLESS SORT, INCLUDING ASSASSINATION ("BEIRUT RULES").

THIS IS NOT A MOVIE THAT ENGENDERS OPTIMISM IN ME.

WHILE IT HIGHLIGHTS MANY OF THE CONTRADICTIONS PRESENT IN THE 'ENDGAME' AGE OF PETROLEUM, IT FASHIONS NO EASY ANSWERS TO THE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR OIL AND THE HEGEMONY OF GLOBAL OIL CAPITALISM OVER PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE.