I've mentioned Syriana a couple times here I think. It looks like the perfect film for people who visit this board. I've heard Gaghan, Clooney and Robert Baer talk about the film and it's making. I think people should see the film and read Baer's books.

A writer in Boston recently called Clooney the most important person in American film based on "Syriana" (which he co-produced) and his last film (which he also co-wrote and directed) "Good Night and Good Luck". His next film "The Good German" is, according to Clooney, about "how to screw up an occupation"...which he said as a joke but like his Murrow vs McCarthy film I'm sure it will resonate against our current events.   

I recently saw "Good Night and Good Luck" and it was a wonderful film that was specifically designed to make it's audience think, discuss, and question...it did not lay simple answers or thoughts on the table for you to carry away like a doggie bag when you walked out. It was an elegant little film born at just the right moment in time. 

A long time back I had mentioned here that there were right wingnuts that wanted to get very revisionist with who and what McCarthy was. They wanted to paint him as a great American hero who was fighting for the American way of life. Funny the moment in history they chose to attempt that, against a backdrop of the current administration waging a vicious campaign to paint anyone who did not agree with their policy and actions as weak terrorist sympathizers who wanted to offer the terrorists "therapy" rather than fight them. To paint them as simpletons who would flush America down the toilet rather than fight. Pages torn directly from the McCarthy playbook. As in McCarthy's day people picked up the ball and ran with it...bought the whole thing lock, stock, and barrel. Only this time it wasn't just the junior senator from Wisconsin, it was the President, Vice President, and the whole administration peddling this hogwash and all they needed do is change the word Commie to terrorist and the script was already there...no homework to do.

Don't think because of my little rant that "Good Night" is a left wing hatchet job, it's not, it's a film about a moment in time that reflects how easily history will repeat itself if we let it. An idea that also was used against us in the "war on terror".

Clooney basically says he wants to wage a war of ideas because bombs and guns are not going to save us or make a better world on their own. I think that has been expressed many times by the people who visit this board. If  "Syriana" is even half as good as "Good Night"  he's off to a good start and maybe he is one of the most important people in American film right now.  

I've always felt that one of the funny things about this war on terror is that if you are part of the Bush administration or support them that by default you support the terrorists and if you are a terrorist or support them you by default support the Bush administration because the goals of the terrorists help support what the Bushies want to do and the goals of the Bushies help support the terrorists. A weird and vicious circle...but that's how we like it isn't it? Weird and vicious...because we're bored I guess.

Anyway...yeah...I can't wait to see Syriana. This weekend I hope.