I am going to decline to see it, much like I have declined to see 99% of what is put out by Hollywood. Without getting into THAT rant whatsoever, let me outline my reasons for not bothering with Syriana:

  • I am convinced we are in an energy pickle. How much of a pickle? We'll see. I don't need convincing.

  • America's energy predicament is a complex thing, not captured in any three-hour film

  • Nobody is going to change their consumer behavior based on seeing this film

  • Nobody is going to change their consumer behavior until it hits them right smack dab in the wallet and they simply can not purchase the items they wish to consume.

And finally, until population growth is slowed and reversed, any and all conservation, kyoto, down-scaling and what-not is irrelevant. An exponential growth curve will obliterate all measures.

Stop breeding. Thanks, carry on!

Nobody is going to change their consumer behavior based on seeing this film

Maybe they will. After seeing Oliver Stone's "Salvador" in the mid-80's, I researched the situation to find out how much of the movie was true. I ended up visiting El Salvador and a neighbouring refugee camp (during the civil war). My political views changed almost beyond recognition. Cinema can be powerful.

My (non-PO) epiphany came not with a film, but with a play. Same thing, though. In this case it was "Guantanamo: Honor Bound To Defend Freedom", a play about how the detainees at Guantanamo are being treated. It was the most shocking and affecting piece of art I've ever experienced. I couldn't stop crying for 15 minutes after the show was over.

There's not much we can do about this situation as individuals, but we donated money to the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is trying to provide legal aid to the prisoners. I wish everyone could see this play so the whole country would all know what this administration is doing in Guantanamo.

I would wish that a similar piece of art could have the same effect for peak oil, although I'm with Super G—unfortunately, I don't think Syriana is going to be it.