contrary to most other comment about syriana on the imdb web site and i and my family find watch this film on dvd at home a complete waste of time and space . in short and this be a film base on a script whose writer be be too clever by far . rather than try to tell a complex story in an intelligent and clear manner and it be assume that constantly throw mostly vague and hard to connect with each other 30 second vignette of different story line from a dozen or so story line at the audience make for great and clear viewing . no and sir and it do not . what do make for great viewing be total clarity and precision and plot and story line and characterisation which have a beginning and a middle and and an end . this kind of cinematic presentation akin to the dim sum experience in a chinese restaurant be pretentious and unintelligent in the extreme . thank goodness and then and for the tv and dvd presentation of the hollywood and british film noirs of the 1940s and 1950s whose writer and director and and actor know the value of clear story tell and diction and and act that meant something . this be one dvd that this family will not be sit through again .