Watch closely and listen carefully during syriana because stephen gaghans movie is that rarity. Clooneys character is based on robert baer, a former cia agent whose book see no evil. Sleeping with the devil about ussaudi relations and the devil we know about usiran relations. Baer writes regularly for and has contributed to vanity fair, the wall. See no evil was the basis for the acclaimed film syriana, which earned george clooney an oscar for his portrayal of baer. Robert wrote the book see no evil documenting his experiences while working for the agency. Some scenes can be brutal, such as when clooney has some of his fingernails extracted. The book helped gaghan understand the web of players. Robert baer, who served over twenty years with the central intelligence agency, has compiled a rich history with his. Baers book which is subtitled, the true story of a ground soldier in the. I see the movie syriana states to be loosely following robert baers book. There was this scene where i was taped to a chair and getting.
The game ft kendrick lamar and tank see no evil youtube. At the time, it made a big impression, giving readers a rare look inside the secret wars of americas intelligence services like the cia, author bob baers former employer. See no evil is a ground breaking new series about how real crimes are solved with the help of surveillance cameras. Sleeping with the devil about ussaudi relations and the devil we know about usiran. See no evil was the basis for the acclaimed film syriana, which earned george clooney an oscar for his portrayal of. Robert baer recounts his career as a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism, running agents in the back alleys of the middle east, with blistering honesty. Gaghans script, though, isnt that its labyrinthine plot of conspiring emirs, lawyers and cia agents plotting to control the worlds oil supply is so unbelievable.
See no evil by robert baer penguin books australia. Hes not a conventionally good man, but a desperate, dedicated, and eventually. Sleeping with the devil, about the saudi royal family and its relationship with the united states. This riveting book is both an indictment of an agency that lost its way and an unprecedented look at the roots of modern terrorism, and includes a new afterword in. The picture was inspired by incidents in see no evil, a book published in 2002 by the former field agent robert baer. Clooneys character is very loosely based on the reallife cia agent and author bob baer, who published his memoir see no evil in 2002. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism by robert baer, who, under the name bob baer, also has a small role in the film. See no evil, a 2003 book by former cia case officer robert baer. He is considered one of the worlds foremost authorities on the middle east and frequently appears on all major news outlets. Syriana is likewise very looselybased on baers varied experiences.
The movies and books ultimate point is that we are all sucking at the oil teat, which despite anyones best machinations, shall eventually run dry. Nov 17, 2005 syriana does for oil what traffic did for drugs. Readers have been intrigued by these indepth accounts of how the cia and other. Syriana in london celebrity circuit pictures cbs news. In the maze that is syriana, no theseus arrives to slay the. Jul, 2006 its adapted from robert baers book see no evil. Jan 07, 2003 see no evil is a crossbreed between a spy novel and a political memoir. Im about half way through see no evil and its very difficult to put downbut. I was wondering if anyone has read, see no evil by robert baer. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war against terrorism is a 2003 memoir by robert baer, a former cia case officer in the directorate of operations. Im about half way through see no evil and its very difficult to put downbut also very hard to read. See no evil is the astonishing and controversial memoir from one of the cias top field officers of the past quarter century. Inspired by see no evil, a 2002 memoir by former cia operative robert baer, syriana follows bobs complex moral dilemma.
Dec 01, 2005 writer and director stephen gaghans syriana goes on the attack against americas prime addiction. A politically charged epic about the state of the oil industry in the hands of those personally. I saw syriana, the movie which was based on see no evil. Jan 01, 2002 he is the author of four new york times bestsellers, including see no evilthe basis for the acclaimed film syriana, which earned george clooney an oscar for his portrayal of baer. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism, but writerdirector stephen gaghan who wrote traffic uses baers book.
Baer begins with his upbringing in the united states and europe and continues with a tour of his cia experiences across the globe. Syriana does for the oil market what traffic did for the drug trade. See no evil the backstage battle over sex and violence on television, by geoffrey cowan, 1979. Nov 23, 2005 f rom selling missiles in tehran, to business propositions in spain, to fat oil companies in texas, to fatal decisions in washington d. The true story of a ground soldier in the cia s war on terrorism, is sent out to the mythical arab state of.
The film is built on fine performances and difficult positions, a mature, provocative look at global machinations performed by smallminded men. Freedomland opens celebrity circuit pictures cbs news. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war against terrorism is a 2003. Baer takes you from his itinerant childhood in europe and restless college days through his career in the cia, which he applied to more or less on a whim. Syriana in london actordirector george clooney, left, stands with robert baer, former cia agent and writer of the book see no evil, on which the movie syriana is based, during the launch of. Four sentences in this book struck a very personal chord, thus it became a very engrossing, moving, heartfelt story.
Very loosely based on former cia operative robert baers incendiary 2002 memoir see no evil, traffic screenwriter stephen gaghans second turn as a feature director envisions an alltooreal world. See no evil the hardy boys, a 1987 hardy boys casefiles novel. See top picks for your kid in common sense media plus. Syriana was very loosely based on the 2002 book see no evil. Syriana is loosely based on see no evil, the memoir by former cia case officer robert baer, who, in 2002, accompanied gaghan as he globetrotted to syria, lebanon, dubai and geneva to. Syriana was inspired by the book see no evil by former cia agent robert baer. Syriana is a 2005 american geopolitical thriller film written and directed by stephen gaghan, and executive produced by george clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast.
Robert baer bio, age, wife, books, cia, see no evil, iran. And in the films most chilling plot strand, we see how the struggle for oil feeds the radical islam movement in the middle east, providing young men with a feeling of brotherhood and righteousness in the face of a region they feel has turned its back on them in favor of big business and western corruption. I also strongly recommend robert baers books see no evil and sleeping with the devil. Syriana paints slick picture of corruption in oil industry. He is considered one of the worlds foremost authorities on the middle east and frequently appears on robert b. Dec 06, 2005 excia agent robert baer, inspiration for syriana former cia officer robert baers book see no evil inspired the new film syriana, about the middle east, the oil industry and espionage. F rom selling missiles in tehran, to business propositions in spain, to fat oil companies in texas, to fatal decisions in washington d.
Gaghans screenplay is loosely adapted from ex cia operative robert baers memoir see no evil. Get informed about this vast and complex system, and find out how you can help alleviate the human and environmental cost of oil. The films character bob barnes played by george clooney is loosely based on baer. Most of them are honest citizens going about their everyday lives. Syriana, stephen gaghans tense, outrageously complicated thriller about oil. Syriana is loosely based on cia agent bob baers memoir, see no evil, though clooneys character, bob barney, is fictional. Syriana is partly inspired by see no evil, the robert baer book that. Writer stephen gaghan traffic, the alamo created the fictional script for syriana based on the nonfiction book see no evil by robert baer. George clooney won an oscar portraying him in the film syriana. See no evil was the basis for the acclaimed film syriana, which earned.
It has been suggested by robert baers factual see no evil. Little do they know reclusive psychopath jacob goodnight has holed away in. Gaghan, suggested by the book see no evil by robert baer, seems to position itself as a seriousminded political statement by studiously, ev. Nov 23, 2005 the bulk of media coverage relating to syriana gives the impression that this is one of the most searing and controversial docudramas ever made, intended to sock it to president george w.
The true story of a foot soldier in the cias war on terrorism screenwriter stephen. It is an entertaining, moles eye view of the intelligence community. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism, is sent out to the mythical arab state of syriana. The bulk of media coverage relating to syriana gives the impression that. New cinema its all connected books and arts the economist. A film of the book called syriana, in which george clooney plays the. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism inspired some of the plot. Jesus piece the game see no evil ft kendrick lamar and tank the game see no. Inspired by see no evil, a 2002 memoir by former cia operative robert baer, syriana is complex and earnest, a film that repays close attention. Based on the novel learning wisdom by uka sakugata, the truth about lies reaches out to tie together corporate greed, wall street, and the fccs ongoing. The film focuses on the shady dealings in the middle east between shieks, businessmen, and secret agents.
Former cia officer robert baer gets quizzed on bears baer has written a series of books about the decades he spent in the cia. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on terrorism robert baer on. See no evil is a crossbreed between a spy novel and a political memoir. The book begins by relating the littleknown history of west papua, but its focus is on the impact of new zealands foreign policy on the indigenous melanesian inhabitants. Baers books see no evil and sleeping with the devil were the basis for the 2005 academy awardwinning warner brothers motion picture syriana. They will be interested after theyve read see no evil. Nov 23, 2005 thankfully syriana is that rare bird of a. New zealands betrayal of the people of west papua maire leadbeater the book. Dec 16, 2012 jesus piece the game see no evil ft kendrick lamar and tank the game see no evil hq the game see no evil 2012. Baer has extensive expertise speaking on american intelligence and the war on terror. Syriana is partly inspired by see no evil, the robert baer book that chronicles his experiences in the cia with terrorism and the oil industry. Every second of every day, millions of americans are caught on cctv. He is the author of four new york times bestsellers, including see no evilthe basis for the acclaimed film syriana, which earned george clooney an oscar for his portrayal of baer.
Robert baer, an intelligence and security analyst for cnn, is one of the most accomplished agents in cia history. No mention of oil in that title, but the film posits that oil and terrorism. Barnes, a cia operative loosely based on robert baer, the author of see no evil. Syriana is a geopolitical thriller that promises to be an. Syriana photo gallery update see no evil, syriana is written and directed by stephen gaghan, winner of an academy award for best screenplay traffic the warner bros. Robert baer is the author of two new york times bestsellers. Cnn profiles robert baer intelligence and security analyst cnn. Stephen gaghan makes his directorial debut from his adaptation of the book see no evil. Bob baer is the inspriation for george clooneys character, cia agent bob barnes, who at one point goes to. The movie is supposedly loosely based on a 2002 book by former cia agent, bob baer, entitled see no evil. How syriana almost killed george clooney movie news. The true story of a ground soldier in the cias war on. Hes not a conventionally good man, but a desperate, dedicated, and eventually, broken one.
Hes not a conventionally good man, but a desperate. The source material is see no evil, a book by robert baer, a former cia agent who ran agents in the middle east for most of his 20 years in the agency. The final cut isnt exactly true to see no evil, the candid autobiography of excia operative robert baer that prompted gaghan to write syriana and inspired george clooneys character,bob barnes. The film syriana 2005 was loosely based on the book. Robert baer, who served over twenty years with the central intelligence agency, has compiled a rich history with his experiences in places such as india, lebanon, tajikistan, northern iraq, and washington, dc. Based on the nonfiction book see no evil by robert baer, syriana takes its viewer step by step through the birth and processes of terrorism. See no evil is the true story that inspired the movie syriana. The picture was inspired by incidents in see no evil, a book. Written and directed by stephen gaghan, suggested by the book see no evil by robert baer. Had seen the film syriana and saw that it was loosely based on this book so. Bob baer is the inspriation for george clooneys character, cia agent bob barnes, who at one point goes to beirut. Gaghan, suggested by the book see no evil by robert baer, seems to position itself as a seriousminded political statement by studiously, even. Head injury drove clooney to think of suicide the guardian. This is syriana s thesis, and it stands the test of being applied to todays realworld global politics.
Syriana blurs line between fact and fiction scripps. Syrianas politics are not those of mr baers book or its 2003 followup. It would have been nice to have a movie that spurred dialogue on what has become americas see no evil. Readers have been intrigued by these indepth accounts of how the cia and other intelligence agencies work. His devastating critique of his former employer, see no evil. Baer has written a valuable, illuminating book houston chronicle see no evil is a real. The problem is that the system is not set up for progressive anything. Syriana demonstrates the impact of the global oil industry on communities and individuals around the globe.
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