MovieChat Forums > Syriana (2005) Discussion > When Woodman switches cars with Nasir's ...

When Woodman switches cars with Nasir's wife... (spoiler alert)

posted 10 years ago by MoonWolf99
10 replies | jump to latest

I got the eerie impression that he did this because he knew that the car was going to be bombed - which is confusing, because I thought he really admired Nasir. Any feedback?

[–] AnonII 10 years ago

Sorry, but I think you're absolutely wrong, and totally disagree. There is NO indication Bryan Woodman has any clue about the impending doom. That's all in your head. In fact, he gives up his place in Nasir's car immediately after watching the prince embrace his child and wife in the road as they wait for goatherd to pass. Now, that IS "eerie," but only because it reminds us of the loss of Woodman's own child, which Nasir was not at all responsible for, but about which he and his royal family were truly repentant--because, as noted much earlier in film by Woodman and wife, these Arabs do "love children."

[–] MoonWolf99 10 years ago

Well, thanks for the not-so-polite response to my polite question: "That's all in your head." You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I'm also entitled to mine.

Why bother showing them switching cars? Was there just no point to it at all (other than to get Woodman out safely)? How did they know which car to bomb? Hasn't it already been suggested that someone was on the inside? Perhaps Woodman wasn't so naive as everyone assumed he was. The reunion with his wife after everything that happened was eerie to me, too. I got the feeling that she was greeting the wolf in sheep's clothing.

[–] hecantune 10 years ago

As the others have stated, given what Woodman was going through with his own family, it was a genuine offer. It was just dumb luck that this simple gesture would end up saving his life. Even by switching he's still very much in harms way. Woodman is just a numbers guy. I highly doubt that he would have been so calm if he knew a missile was going to strike within a few yards.

Back off! ... Way off!

[–] terp34 10 years ago

Moonwolf,

I also disagree with you. When they all get in the SUVs one of the Arabs calls someone to let them know the prince is in the silver Range Rover with a sunroof. Woodman had no idea the bombing was going to happen, he was just being polite and letting the prince spend time with his family. If Woodman did know about the bombing why did he even get in the SUV that the prince was in in the first place? He couldn't have known they were going to get stopped by a herd of goats to then allow him to switch cars. Why take the chance if he did know? It was just luck that he was spared,, period. He had absolutely no idea what was about to happen.

[–] esplak 10 years ago

I got the impression that Woodman made the call. But I can be wrong. Are you sure terp34 that an Arab made the call?

[–] devoe-3 10 years ago

Yes, it's quite clearly shown that an Arab (I think Nasir's brother?) makes the call which car is Nasir's.

[–] massawar-1 10 years ago

Not his brother, one of his guards

[–] jaseace 8 years ago

Yes an Arab made the call, one interesting thing though I just made a new topic on...when Woodman's bosses were cleaning out his office near the end, one of the framed pictures from his office had Bob in it

[–] PlayView 8 years ago

I think it was Bob's house they were cleaning out.

[–] yoda9999 8 years ago

Or his office at the CIA.

As for the OT, I think the Woodman leaving the car before the strike was definitely meant to tease or provoke some sentiment. Could Woodman be a CIA agent also, did he want revenge on his son's death, something like that. But, the story is intended to be Woodman is just who he is, a private citizen with no knowledge of the conspiracy against Nasir.