Syriana

[Alex]

For me, it was the best movie of 2005, narrowly topping Capote (and with the caveat that I haven't yet seen many likely very good movies from 2005).

Of course, the tension may have been artificially elevated by the fact that I had to pee about 30 minutes into this 150 minute movie and I was afraid of missing something so couldn't leave until it was over.

I will say that Clooney, in promoting the movie, engaged in a marvelous piece of misdirection (saw him do it on three different interviews).

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I will say that Clooney, in promoting the movie, engaged in a marvelous piece of misdirection (saw him do it on three different interviews).

I didn't see any of his interviews for this film.

Spoiler:

Did he misdirect the fact that his character is blown to smithereens? I couldn't believe that it was going to happen. I kept expecting them to run. I wondered if his character realized what would happen, and had decided that his death would result in getting revenge on Whiting.

[Alex]

Yeah, that's it.

Spoiler:

He'd make comments like, "It's very tense, you never know who is going to live or die...though my character did write the book the movie is based on..."

I happened to catch the last 30 minutes of The Peacemaker the other night and it really is amazing how much Clooney has improved in his ability to project a screen presence. It really did come together for him when he figured out how to stop moving his all the time.