A Frank Review of "Syriana" (2005)

The Short Version? Oil companies are evil, though the Middle East would still suck without them.
What Is It? Drama.
Who's In It? George Clooney, Matt Damon
Should I See It? No.

This was not a good movie. This was like the political equivalent of a two-hour sermon, and not one of those Reverend James Brown/Jake Blues doing cartwheels in the ailes Protestant numbers. I'm talking Southern Baptist tent revival/snake handling/CBN broadcaster/too-lefty for Michael Moore kind of end-times prophesying. It was like watching one of those self-important downer 70's movies, without ongoing social revolutions to justify it. George Clooney is wonderfully low key and tubby for most of the film, but he breaks character twice for ClooneyCool moments that took me right outta the pitcher. Matt Damon is serviceable, Amanda Peet is distracting, and the Islamic subplot stars a cipher. Pretty much anyone interested in seeing this movie has chosen their sides with regards to the issues it tackles, so the whole affair seems pointless. It's very dry, you see.