Syriana
2005, Drama/Mystery and thriller, 2h 8m
198 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
Ambitious, complicated, intellectual, and demanding of its audience, Syriana is both a gripping geopolitical thriller and wake-up call to the complacent. Read critic reviews
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Syriana Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Robert Baer
Bryan Woodman
Bennett Holiday
Julie Woodman
Jimmy Pope
Danny Dalton
News & Interviews for Syriana
Critic Reviews for Syriana
All Critics (198) | Top Critics (61) | Fresh (144) | Rotten (54)
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Syriana is an American movie that reaches out beyond itself. Watching it made me feel hopeful -- a rare sensation in a cinema.
January 17, 2018 | Full Review… -
... If you can avoid getting too hung up on the details, Syriana is a brave attempt to blitz the goody-baddy dynamics of cold-war film-making and concentrate on the ambiguities of modern geopolitics.
September 26, 2017 | Full Review… -
This is intelligent, committed, and politically provocative, though its narrative puzzle box may prompt you to throw up your hands and let ExxonMobil go on running the world.
March 30, 2009 | Full Review… -
Its dark, dog-eat-dog vision of the world we live in may give you geopolitical nightmares.
November 1, 2007 | Full Review… -
It's entirely possible that Gaghan just isn't an actor's director.
October 7, 2006 | Full Review… -
The disorientation is purely cosmetic.
September 28, 2006 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Syriana
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Dec 20, 2012Based in part on the writings of former CIA case officer Robert Baer, Syriana combines multiple storylines to explore the complexities that befall a proposed merger between two U.S. oil giants. That being said "Syriana" is a very well made picture. It is very complicated but I admired the interlocking stories and the characters and the wheeling and dealings between the East and West. "Syriana" visual style reminded me of "Traffic" which Stephen Gaghan also wrote. The cast (and it's a vast cast) From George Clooney, Matt Damon, Christopher Plummer, Chris Cooper, Jeffrey Wright, Akbar Kurtha, Tim Black Nelson, Max Minghella, Chirstopher Plummer, Amanda Peet and Viola Davis. Oil is crucial in today's society and is one of the most important sources on earth. Water is another strong candidate but the wealthy would probably prefer oil companies overseas.Brian R Super Reviewer
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Apr 04, 2012Syriana is not a film for everyone. It requires the audience to be extremely attentive, and may even require multiple viewings to be able to fully understand who is doing what, where they're doing it, and why they're doing it. The plot is so complicated and ambitious that at the beginning I found myself frustrated and annoyed that I didn't get it and that it was moving at such a slow pace. There are also multiple plot lines that never really have anything to do with each other except that the actions of one affects one of the other plot lines thus altering the outcome. But all these quibbles put aside, Syriana is a wake-up call to people who think everything is going well in the oil sectors of the world, it's got this docu-drama feel to it, and it rings true in every sense. George Clooney stands out amidst an outstanding cast. I think I'd need to see it again, and pay much closer attention to be able to fully comprehend and understand what was going on. Definitely go see Syriana, but see it when you are awake and prepared to pay attention.Raymond W Super Reviewer
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Mar 31, 2012An uninteresting politic-driven movie that just isn't my cup of tea. I could tell if I were to understand what was going on or even be interested in what was going on, I'd like it. It's well acted (certainly not Academy Award worthy, which Clooney apparently was) and it's well filmed but it's really hard to keep track of the overly complex screenplay. The only people who should bother with Syriana are people who really understand politics (and care about them, for that matter) or people who can easily keep track of complicated plots.Kevin M Super Reviewer
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Jan 22, 2012What appeared to be unconnected stories throughout the film becomes an intertwined reward for those willing to endure the highly involved political talk and constantly shifting agendas. George Clooney displays an uncharismatic performance, yet somehow still nails the subtly of the role.Christopher H Super Reviewer
Syriana Quotes
| Mussawi: | (Bob is tied to a chair with his hands on a table) Bob, your gonna give me the names of everyone who has taken money from you. (He pulls a fingernail from Bob's hand with a plier) Oh, that is disgusting. |
| Mussawi: | [Bob is tied to a chair with his hands on a table] Bob, your gonna give me the names of everyone who has taken money from you. [he pulls a fingernail from Bob's hand with a plier] Oh, that is disgusting. |
| Robby Barnes: | Jimmy, your not one of those Koran thumpers. |
| Mussawi: | My name is Mussawi. (He pulls another fingernail from Bob. He then throws water at Bob's face and begins punching him violently in the face) You fucking fuck, stupid fuck, what the fuck! This is a fucking war! Your a P.O.fucking W! Give me the fucking names! (Bob hits his head against the ground, still tied to the chair) Fuck it. (In Arabic) I'm cutting his fucking head off. (He grabs a knife and kneels down to bob's head) I'm gonna cut your head off Bob. |
| Mussawi: | My name is Mussawi. [he pulls another fingernail from Bob. He then throws water at Bob's face and begins punching him violently in the face] You fucking fuck, stupid fuck, what the fuck! This is a fucking war! Your a P.O.fucking W! Give me the fucking names! [Bob hits his head against the ground, still tied to the chair] Fuck it. [in Arabic] I'm cutting his fucking head off. [he grabs a knife and kneels down to bob's head] I'm gonna cut your head off Bob. |
| Jimmy Pope: | Corruption is our protection. Corruption keeps us safe and warm ... Corruption is why we win. |
| Jimmy Pope: | Corruption is our protection. Corruption keeps us safe and warm. Corruption is why we win. |
| Bryan Woodman: | But what do you need a financial advisor for? Twenty years ago you had the highest Gross National Product in the world, now you're tied with Albania. Your second largest export is secondhand goods, closely followed by dates which you're losing five cents a pound on... You know what the business community thinks of you? They think that a hundred years ago you were living in tents out here in the desert chopping each other's heads off and that's where you'll be in another hundred years, so on behalf of my firm I accept your offer. |
| Bob Barnes: | I want you to take him from his hotel, drug him, put him in the front of a car, and run a truck into it at 50 mph. |
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