Review Syriana in the Post Carbon Context
I have not yet seen Syriana, so this is only second hand information, but thought it was worth mentioning. Two seperate friends went to see it this weekend. One, who knows about peak oil, left the theatre very confused and worried that it might not be such a good recruiting tool because "the average person" will be even more confused. The other friend, who knows nothing about peak oil, said she left the theatre with absolutely no idea what she had just seen or what it all meant. She's not an idiot, btw.
These could be two very exceptional cases. I would be curious to hear other people's feedback. Thanks.
I liked both Syriana and Suburbia but they are quite different movies. One leaves the point up to the viewer while the other is a reality check on our very real problems. Art and documentary-art if you will. Before going, checkout the Ebert review link below. If you get a sense of what kind of film this is, then it's more likely you will enjoy it: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051208/REVIE...
Syriana is kinda like an Altman movie, all over the place not with dialogue but with plot, and you're not really expected to know how they relate. Instead of a one-off understanding of your boss telling you what to do and you do, only to find out later why, this is like a two-off break from even the reason. We as the viewer aren't even really asked why. Just to witness the result. It somehow all works and I quite liked it, as it left it up to me to enjoy the reasons. It's very intent to just portray endgames. You leave the movie without heros.
Suburbia on the contrary is asking for your attention. Notification that the endgame is already happening and to stop being oblivious to our planet. To wake up and smell the solar panels I like to say. It's asking for your help in preparedness for energy descent. Talking to sacred cows and showing what's what.
For me, the whole technical fix psychology really hit home, as I was one of those who looked at hydrogen as the "answer". Suburbia really tested my understanding and confimed other ideas (Deffeyes etc) that I knew about. In the end it leaves anyone who watches it with a sense of thanks-for-telling-me and if not a little bit of fear.
From Suburbia we will see action result. PostCarbon's Outposts for example. Syriana on the other hand is just a movie. I had seen Syriana first then Suburbia but I can't think what order matters here. Both do as they are designed.
Hope that helps
cheers
I went to see Syriana, as did a few of my "peak oil" buddies. We were all disappointed that the film did not use a single scene from its trailer that would infer problems for the general public.
The film is a typical action/adventure flick that happens to deal with oil as the industry of focus. I would equate it to a James Bond sort of movie -- pretty good as entertainment goes, but there were not any blatant references to pending oil depletion, only Americas dependence on oil as a fuel source.
Jim Kunstler has posted a review of Syriana that hints at the shortcomings of the film with respect to educating "the masses" on Peak Oil and the American addiction to cheap oil.
Apparently, we'd all be better served if "the masses" were to see "The End of Suburbia."
What do you think about the geopolitical thriller Syriana? How will did it portray the ramifications fo oil supply disruptions? What did it say might happen? How can Syriana be used to raise awareness and mobilize people for relocalization?
In solidarity
DaveR
David Room
Direct of North American Operations
Post Carbon Institute
www.postcarbon.org
www.globalpublicme