Syriana (2005)
Strong violence, Coarse language
Everything is connected.
Syriana is a political thriller that unfolds against the intrigues and corruption of the global oil industry. From the players’ back-room brokering deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film’s multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power.
As a career CIA operative, Bob Barnes (George Clooney) begins to uncover the disturbing truth about the work he has devoted his life to. An up-and-coming oil broker, Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) faces an unimaginable family tragedy and finds redemption in his partnership with an idealistic Gulf prince, Nasir Al-Subaai (Alexander Siddig). A corporate lawyer, Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) faces a moral dilemma as he finesses the questionable merger of two powerful US oil companies, while across the globe, Wasim Ahmed Khan (Mazhar Munir), a disenfranchised Pakistani teenager, falls prey to the recruiting efforts of a charismatic cleric. Each plays a small part in the vast and complex system that powers the industry, unaware of the explosive impact their lives will have upon the world.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 120mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (134)
134 Member
Reviews
Jacaranda
says
Couldn't understand the words, or the plot and George Clooney looked awful - watched half of it.
Janine
says
Excellent movie. As the review above says, the story is just too big to tell, all we can see are the bits and pieces that make the whole. This movie takes 4 points of view and allows the viewer to put them together.
Cameron
says
I found this hard to follow and it doesn't really explain the characters too well. It just seems like alot of non connecting character in this. It was still okay to watch I just found the story hard to follow.
Jonathan
says
go sit on someones lawn and watch there paint dry.
Peter E.
says
had to concentrate fully to understand where all the characters fitted into story- great movie
Brian W.
says
Engrossing film.
Pay attention and observe especially at the beginning.
Clooney is totally plausable as the CIA operative and Mat Damon as the trader with the best interests of his client at heart.
If you like intrigue you will love this.
Peter F.
says
I had no idea what was going on. Didn't warrant a second sit through to understand it either.
It seemed there was no plot. Just political randomness.
Greg A.
says
Somewhat interesting. Complicated and hard to follow the connection between characters.
Overall found depressing!
RoyF
says
yeah i was expecting something awesome but didn't get that at all which just sucked to bits. from the cast thos could have been awesome and they were good Gerge clooney and mat damon but even Jeffrey wright was pretty good to. this movie was all over the place and just a mess.
Andre P.
says
The movie does take a bit of concentration, but I enjoyed it a lot. See this if you liked Lions for Lambs or The Kingdom.
gth
says
Dazed, confused and under the mistaken impression that it's illustrating the confusion of the region in some kind of crescendo of clarity. In the end it felt like a misfired weapon leaving me walking home wondering if they'll screen the proper edit.
Matt Damon's character is slightly wooden (I've never been able to see his characters display believable feelings for a partner in any of his work), but his busy-dad / torn soul gets a look in for a while (and yes, I would be surprised if construction in the middle east isn't to our safety specs). Mazhar Munir does quite well in portraying the angst of foreign workers that are so often shafted - a risk definitely not confined to the manual labour. Clooney is a very distant third mention, but the obsession with trying to condense Baer into bite size pieces falls very flat, especially when the pieces are fed to the viewer so sparsely via an awkward edit that pass for "interwoven" in this production.
This movie might shake some cobwebs in a dull mind, but for those whose eyes are open and don't believe every government is good nor every company abide by the rules especially for their 'remote' offices (AWB anyone?), the movie is eye-glazing without a punch line. Watch "The Kingdom" for a meal more educational and more intelligently delivered.
Steven T.
says
Strong script and performances -- well worth watching.
Carolyn A.
says
Whilst Clooney's character left me cold, I found the rest of the movie riveting. Quitely powerful performances from most of the cast with a sobering interconnecting storyline overall. The good guys do not always win, to everyone's detriment. I wish the world was brave enough to develop techology to challenge oil's supremacy. Excellent if you're in the mood for a serious movie.
Jo-Anne L.
says
Complex film about the role of government, oil companies, religious zealots and lots of shady dealings by unscrupulous people. Great acting from George Clooney, matt Damon and all the cast. 2 hrs goes very quickly as the various threads come together for a dramatic finale.
Tracey L.
says
Like most of the reviews listed I also found it confusing to decipher all the characters but still liked the film. Helped to go back to watch the start again to put all the individual story lines together.
Melinda R.
says
Mind-numbingly boring. Couldn't watch the whole thing. That's 90 minutes of my life I'll never get back.
Alfred S.
says
I look forward to watching this film again as there was just so much happening it really is difficult to absorb it all in one viewing. Having said that, this is one of the best movies I've seen of late. It's only let down by the fact that it feels like they had to cut a lot out of the film to make it only two hours long. It jerks along in parts, at times too quickly and I often felt like going back over a scene with the remote control to see what I must have missed. It asks a lot of the viewer, but overall it is brilliant. This is the way to make a film with a message. It doesn't hit it's audience with a sledgehammer and although there is some quite disturbing violence, it is very realistic and makes many valid and disturbing points.
There is a array of great actors in this film and George Clooney does stand out, but overall the cast were outstanding. I found some of the reality in the film was unconvincing. For example, underwater pool lighting is always low voltage, not mains voltage.
Unfortunately, I'm convinced that this is probably how it really is amongst business and government and it shows us all how little influence we have on our own lives, although the ending offers us all a glimmer of hope.
Janet W.
says
Pretty average film really.
Steve L.
says
Good storyline, takes a bit of following (and some rewinding) to pick up who is who and where they belong but well worth watching. It makes you wonder if this is really how the oil industry works and all the middle eastern strife is about oil, not religion.
Brian H.
says
Why should we have to try quite so hard to connect the many loose ends of this story? Hey it's only entertainment isn't it? Conspiricy theorists and left-wing luveys love to portray the oil-men as evil power-mongers. But more strength to their elbows. I need petrol and I need it cheaply. Those wishing for the horse and cart days before the combustion engine, rock on. Every event, every so-called piece of action in this movie I have seen portrayed before. Perhaps this is why there are multi inputs leading up to the non-climax. If it wasn't for the deliberate? confusion it would be just be a slow sonambulant walk through the litter of social/ethical comment to the vanishing point of "cor blimey why did I bother?"
Susan P.
says
A very good movie. Wasn't sure how all the threads would resolve themselves, but thought they all came together really well. Great acting and a theme that is just so relevant today.
Marian L.
says
Danuta
says
Unfortunately frustrating viewing! Considering this film has a great story premise and such a good cast lineup. I was sadly dissappointed with the overall story telling via the editing of this film. The disjointed "clip vigniette" type of editing style was just plain annoying and distracted from what a good movie should be - "tell the story and the good performances will also shine"! What a shame, I felt like I wanted to see the real film, with any scenes that were on the cutting room floor put back in again! I would have sacked the Editor and Executive producer (one of which was George Clooney) and re-edited.
Samadhi T.
says
good but boring...
Julie H.
says
this movie was very hard to follow.
Sumera S.
says
I thought this was a great movie. It also potrays very well how poverty, frustration and ignorance help in the indoctrination of extremist values.
Kyla V.
says
Pauline P.
says
Thought-provoking. Makes you wonder who you can trust if not your government. But then, that's not too surprising these days anyway. Citizens are taken for fools.
Peter F.
says
What a load of old cliches....plot is tenuous, characters are wooden, storyline is thin...but.. the film makes you watch hoping something happens... and it does!!!
Robert C.
says
This was a pretty ordinary movie
Alasdair W.
says
A plausible but unpopular view of America's role in world geo-politics. Complex to begin with but it all comes together in the last 15 minutes.
Florence S.
says
excellent movie
Okto F.
says
What happened!!!
Richard L.
says
poor movie
Nigel W.
says
Although Syriana is interesting in its presentation, I felt the story offered nothing new. Yes, multinational oil companies and Western governments will do anything to secure contracts for the supply of cheap oil.
Janice A.
says
jojo
says
David H.
says
A deep and powerful fictional examination of the way US power and oil interests intersect in the Middle East, resisting positive change, propping up corrupt governments and generally messing it up for all of us, but particularly those that live there. This is a dense film packed with great performances.
Richard R.
says
Leeanne K.
says
didn't get past the first 30 mins. Too many threads, not coming together.
John O.
says
At times amazing, always insightful and thought-provoking. My only quibble is that I still don't understand the George Clooney subplot!
Michael M.
says
Erica S.
says
The story itself was OK but it seemed very disjointed and quite difficult to follow. The characters weren't built very well and you were left at the end feeling "is that it?".
Paulo D.
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Colin W.
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Dawn P.
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Jane M.
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A bit confusing but sticks in your head after its finished.
Ava L.
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Rajan P.
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Pauline T.
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N T.
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Margaret R.
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Maureen H.
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Shane P.
says
Full on - make sure you're switched on from the fiorst scene as the information comes thick and fast!
Jason M.
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Elaine C.
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Peter H.
says
Despite the cast of good Actors, I found the movie to be too disjointed, jumpimg from one locale to the next which to me confuses the storyline.
Kathy W.
says
David C.
says
Too many sub plots. Too confusing.
Bernadette B.
says
Complex plots are OK if they're interesting. This complex plot did not hold my attention. I lasted about 30 minutes before watching paint dry began to look like a more appealing option
Sarah E.
says
Huge potential to be shocking and thought provoking but this film was just too slow, boring and disjointed to be either. We all know the CIA sells good guys down the river, western governments are only interested in money and power and are using it to suck the Middle East dry of oil and there's going to be a terrible mess when there's no oil left. Clooney and Damon were wasted on this one.
James H.
says
Ashley K.
says
Hollywood has a conscience now?
Contrary to some others I found this overly straighforward and dull. There is the pretence of interwoven subplots, but just ignore that, it's rubbish.
It's actually politically naive and shallow, and I'm saying that with Baer's book next to me, which is also surprisingly naive.
I think this film is to be filed under the National Geographic genre of recent 'blockbusters' (like Lord Of War) entitled 'oh so that's where that country is'. That's about all you'll get out of this.
Dave A.
says
First rate plot that loses you in the first half with its complexity, yet it unravels nicely towards the end. Concentration was needed all the way to really get a grip of this movie. Makes one wonder how close this story is to the truth about the oil industry.
Karen A.
says
George B.
says
To Complex for me could not follow the story Good acting by George Clooney but not at his best
Kevin B.
says
Good movie, some clever elements.
Katarina C.
says
Ray B.
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Kevin B.
says
Good escapist movie. Interesting idea of the inter-relationship of events and inevitable greed.
Leanne S.
says
This might be a good movie, if you knew what was going on. I don't believe I have a short attention span.....but there are so many 'spans' to the film I have no idea whose crossing the bridge. If you like though provoking films which are very drawn out and impossible to follow then dont watch Syriana. Great acting yes. But plot not any, or too many to follow. Try another thought provoking movie which is easier to follow, there are a few out there.
Eric K.
says
Excellent movie.... although if you do not like following complex stories may not be for you.... I liked it a lot.
Phillippa
says
I have no doubt that this is an excellent movie, but I was just too "dumb" to understand what was happening most of the time. It jumps all over the place and at times I couldn't work out who were the goodies and who were the baddies. Rather confusing, and if this is what really happens in real life, then alarming too.
Michael O.
says
Bruce W.
says
This movie didn't do a lot for me. Very hard to follow. You have to ask what was the point of some of the storyline.
Robyn K.
says
Chrissi H.
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lakme
says
Couldn't watch it! My partner and I perservered for 45 minutes then had to give up. We couldn't make head nor tail of it. Maybe we didn't give it a fair go but there was no entertainment value for us so we gave it the flick. Too much jumping around for our liking. Maybe the whole thing was just too cerebral.
Robyn P.
says
Very intense with multiple storylines.
Christopher G.
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Janice Y.
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Joanna P.
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Nola B.
says
Great movie that kept you on your toes as you need to concentrate to follow.
Melanie C.
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JB
says
May L.
says
Syriana is a highly political film, you really need to be switched on and paying attention when you watch it or it'll go over your head.
Defintely not a movie for a rainy afternoon in which was what I was after.
Jennifer B.
says
Helen J.
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Wendy R.
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Anthony B.
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Marco A.
says
It is good to see the film as it is based on events that really happened which makes it all the more shocking. Pity the film itself does not do this amazing story justice
Nathan C.
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Amanda G.
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Terence B.
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Lorene J.
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Garry I.
says
A bit disconcerting if this is what really goes on in the Oil industry. Excellent screenplay, good acting by Clooney and Damon.
Nicole S.
says
Friederike E.
says
Didn´t get the story and switched off after 20 min, too confusing for my taste
Shirley G.
says
Too much concentration was required to try and watch this one.
Raymond J.
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Anoop M.
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Chris K.
says
Great cast, beautifully acted, thought-provoking in the extreme, but how did it all fit together? Never heard of director Gaghan before; apparently he wrote the screenplay for Traffic and the style of Syriana is almost identical. If you loved Traffic you'll love this and vice-versa.
It's very watchable and fascinating in parts but in the end this humble brain was too confused to give it a higher rating. Just who WAS the character played by William Hurt? I'd have to watch it again and even then I don't think I'd link all the stories, but perhaps that is the point, that the big picture is too difficult for anyone to grasp properly.
Ronald H.
says
A bit Confusing and a lot of subtitles
Sarah H.
says
Great cast, and really well filmed. It was just missing something- like a cohesive plot. Maybe it's just me, but I thought this one tried to be a little bit tricky...
Barbara S.
says
Julie P.
says
A bit disjointed in places but you really need to concerntrate - its not one to watch and relax
Mike R.
says
Janette B.
says
It had a great cast but a bit slow and disjointed.
Brian G.
says
A very complex plot of international intrigue, often hard to follow. Disturbing torture scenes render this movie unattractive viewing. Acting indifferent and convoluted. Sustained suspense.
Ron P.
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M B.
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Kellie W.
says
I got a bit confused with the plot but what I did understand I thought was great!
sonab
says
A great movie with a very plausible plot given this day and age. You need to concentrate a lot on the story plot, but it is well worth it. Definately recommended, but you have to watch it undistracted otherwise you won't really know what it's about. Great viewing.
Lyneve C.
says
A superb tapestry of intrigue, politics, betrayal - and oil. George Clooney at his best as an actor and director. Not so much a work of fiction but a commentary of the world today.
Martin B.
says
This movie doesn't 'star' George or Matt. They take second place behind an excellent screenplay. Every time you fill up your petrol tank think about the supply chain depicted in this movie. It's 'traffic' all over again. Just as real and just as scary.
Lesley L.
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Raymond N.
says
As stated worth watching.
Tim H.
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Richard B.
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Couldnt make head nor tale of it - and lost interest after 30 mins of perserverence. Dont understand why it was reviewed so favourably.
Nicholas M.
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Danielle E.
says
I think this is a fantastic movie! well worth seeing. George Clooney and Matt Damon give great performances.
Kelly C.
says
I found this quite hard to follow and gave up about an hour into it. Very complicated story line.
Lewis C.
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Janet B.
says
Other people may like it,I found it harsh and disconnected in story line. We lost the plot and did not see it to the end.
Peter S.
says
Complex story with an interesting and none-too-flattering portrayal of how the mega-multinationals operate, particularly in the middle east. And how ineffective regulators can be in controlling big-business behaviour. Great cast handle the material well, with a quality production effort.
Caroline K.
says
An ultimately depressing portrayal of the business of power and oil… a captivating portrayal by Clooney. Much better on DVD than the big screen with the pause and rewind buttons at hand… I read the book (See no Evil) immediately after the movie wanting to know more about Clooney’s character – loosely based on ex-CIA agent Robert Baer. Some interesting perspectives on 9/11 (the book that is)… and the CIA/US Government relations. Movie highly recommended to those interested in the topics of power and oil or generally the world of intelligence and/or terrorism.
BARTLE
says
An excellent movie, well directed and a strong cast. Storyline was complex and challenging, and requires concentration to appreciate the depth of plot.
Stefano B.
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Teneille L.
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Florence R.
says
Several stories being told here which all ultimately unite in a climax that is as powerful as it is eye opening. Excellent performances from an all-star cast.
Greg M.
says
Dirty dealings in the oil industry. Confusing at first as to who is friends with who and who is plotting against who it falls into place towards the end of the movie. George Clooney barely recognisable is excellent as a CIA Operative and finally uncovers the truth about what is happening. One could almost believe that the movie is not total fiction.
Joanne J.
says
Confusing - have to concentrate fully
Marg O.
says
Once you have all the characters sorted out - great movie. Concentration is needed!