Movie Review: Syriana

I was expecting something of the same calibre as Traffic, but Syriana comes nowhere near. The first half of the movie is incredibly boring that at one point I even contemplated walking out. Things are better in the second half.

1. The scenes involving the Pakistani boy and how he is brainwashed by the devious preacher are probably the most riveting parts of the movie.


2. The Prince's assassination is overly dramatic; drives home the point, good cinematic value, and all that, but showing the CIA guys shaking hands with and backslapping each other borders on caricature.


3. Matt Damon's character opting to switch vehicles seems to be introduced into the script solely to have a happy ending of sorts, when he rejoins his wife and son in the States.


4. Clooney's performance is singularly unriveting.