A movie about the connection of corruption

This film tells the story of a number of different people who are affected by the corrupting power of the Oil industry. From the board of directors, to lawyers investigating charges of company corruption (while they themselves do dodgy deals), to a CIA agent left out to dry, right down to the poor lives of those working on rigs that are laid off and preyed upon by Islamic Terrorists. Oh of course, you have the story of the royal Arabic family and the plots involved in maintaining power in America’s advantage.

Involved story

It is a bit like watching West Wing in that it is hard to follow in terms of who is doing what to who and why. But this does not take away for the films overall message that power has a corrupting quality that few if any can resist. Lives are bought and sold so easily in the board room. It reminded me of the power of the one ring in Lord of the Rings. The ring’s corrupting power worked best on those who were already powerful.

The corrupting power of power

It is of interest to me that there are very few people who are able to withstand the corruption of power. I suppose power feeds pride and pride leads to being opposed by God himself. When you watch the film all the lives in it are worse off by the end (some more than others) apart from Matt Damon’s character who seems to have escaped to rejoin his wife and son. There is a verse in the Bible that says

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

Score

I give this movie 3.5 stars, it was an interesting movie.