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'Syriana': Thick plot intrigues, but never captivates

The oft-repeated shorthand description of "Syriana," the cryptically titled political thriller starring an "Ocean's Eleven"-worthy roster of acting talent, is that it does for oil what "Traffic" (written by Stephen Gaghan, the writer/director of "Syriana") did for drugs.

That's true in a number of ways. Hopping about the globe like a channel-surfing news junkie, the film puts us in the middle of conversations that illuminate some of the countless ways one part of the world depends on (and exploits) another.

Warner Brothers Pictures 'Syriana' 3 out of 5 stars Director: Stephen Gaghan Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Amanda Peet, Chris Cooper, Tim Blake Nelson Run time: 123 minutes Release date: Nov. 23, 2005 Rating: R for violence and language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Syriana'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

But where "Traffic" began life as a TV miniseries that was remade as a thoroughly satisfying film, viewers might hope that "Syriana" eventually works its way in the opposite direction. The movie is smart and involving, but there's just too much on the plate here to digest.

To be fair, the earlier film had an easier job. Most viewers are far more familiar with the drug war than with the geopolitical complexities of the oil industry, allowing "Traffic" to spend more time dramatizing the human ramifications of government policy. Most of us could watch a dozen films information-stuffed films like "Syriana" and still feel a little ignorant. A miniseries would at least be able to expand stories and develop characters that are intriguing but never completely captivating here.

Summarizing the plot briefly is impossible, and even listing the major players takes a while.

George Clooney, as a U.S. intelligence agent whose assignments involve a lot of dirty work, has not only put on weight and a beard but (in a useful way) jettisoned the clarity and charisma that made him a star. He looks distracted and ambivalent throughout, suggesting that no Westerner can learn as much about the Middle East as he has without sacrificing some peace of mind.

Jeffrey Wright is an attorney assisting in the merger of two oil companies; stiff and detail-oriented, he looks like the kind of man who becomes a whistle-blower when confronted with corporate impropriety, but the movie lets us wonder about that for some time. Similarly, Matt Damon — who is angling to be financial adviser to the son of an aging, oil-rich emir — might be either a hustler with dollar signs in his eyes or a sincere man hoping to help his client prepare for the future.

Gaghan doesn't want to nail these characters down, but it isn't as if giving them clearer intentions would have made "Syriana" simpleminded. Instead, doing so might have generated enough emotional interest that Gaghan could afford to do without some family-drama subplots that feel extraneous here.

Elsewhere, family issues are critical to the plot. The prince Matt Damon is wooing has a brother who also hopes to inherit the throne; their rivalry goes beyond self-interest, reflecting dueling philosophies about how the their nation should deal with America.

Gaghan's film isn't as visually extreme as "Traffic," but the overall feel is similar to that and some other Steven Soderbergh films. The camera is restless, the editing aggressive, and the script wary of much exposition. Dialogue rushes by without stopping to see if you caught all of it or understood its references.

Fortunately, like a jigsaw puzzle with some pieces missing, you can miss some nuances and still make out the picture. But in a picture that involves not only the highlights above but also terrorist training, Washington lobbyists, institutional corruption and a "Committee to Liberate Iran," any view is likely to feel a little skimpy.