Through three impressively tied story strands an image of a world doomed to unending conflict because of corporate greed and government complicity emerges.

Clooney is CIA operative "Bob", whose career spent organizing coup d’etat literally weighs down his heavy frame.

However, he finds himself on the CIA's bad side when a assassination attempt is bungled.

A surprisingly effective Matt Damon is a low level financial trader suddenly given a golden oil opportunity due to a tragic accident, while Mazhar Munir is a man to watch as a disenfranchised Palestinian worker embraced by Islamic fundamentalism.

Christopher Plummer is the face of America’s government and corporate romance, and Alexander Siddig is striking as a Middle Eastern Prince who finds himself targeted because he favours Chinese currency over American dollars.

Syriana’s carefully paced first hour, patiently laying the groundwork of its intricate plot, will infuriate those expecting The Bourne Supremacy or Ocean’s Twelve.

This is a grown-up movie that demands full attention; audience members who cannot go two hours without checking text messages need not apply.

For adults willing to engage their brains, there is much to admire.

The political machinations have a chilling ring of authenticity to them, and America is strongly branded the bad guy, subtly influencing the leadership of Middle Eastern countries so the precious black gold does not go to the Chinese, and ruthlessly neutralizing any threats to the oil monopoly, be they foreign or domestic.

But, the leading nations will reap the whirlwind of constant exploitation and Syriana’s denouement, a masterfully cross-cut sequence of government approved assassination and suicide bombing is a haunting spectacle that lingers long after the lights go up.

Stephen Gaghan won an Oscar for scripting Traffic and that film’s feel is matched here in the multi-layered, multi-character plot.

His second directorial outing (under the producing eye of Clooney and Steven Soderbergh) after the disappointing Abandon, Syriana may be too politically hot to win any major awards but is admirable proof Hollywood, courtesy of Warner Bros., is not afraid to think.

Rob Daniel