The Oscar race gets serious with "Syriana," a gripping and daringly complex movie about How Things Get Done these days in the blood-drenched world of oil, politics and religion. The producer is George Clooney (who also co-stars), and this film, coupled with "Good Night and Good Luck" (which he directed), makes him Hollywood's undisputed standard bearer for liberal causes and themes. And Clooney doesn't wait for an awards-show pulpit; he's figured out how to make important movies to make his views known. Read the full review
In an oil-producing Persian Gulf state, a young, charismatic and reform-minded prince seeks to change its long-standing relationships with U.S. business interests. A CIA agent (George Clooney) is dispatched to kill him.
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.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A-
"In a role that could put him in contention for best supporting actor, Christopher Plummer is splendid, giving us the silken egocentricity and plummy arrogance of a Beltway insider."
Austin American-Statesman: 3 of 5 stars
"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."
Middletown Journal: B
"... feels like a James Bond story planted squarely in the real world, with a curious peek behind the curtain to see what makes everything tick."
The Palm Beach Post: B-
"You may not follow every detail of Syriana — I certainly did not — but that should not stop you from rolling up your sleeves and wading in."
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