Resourceful CIA agent Roger Ferris, convincingly played by Leonardo DiCaprio, hunts the Middle East for an Arab terrorist leader who has orchestrated bombings around the world in Ridley Scott's tense and exciting contemporary thriller.

DiCaprio takes the lion's share of the entertaining proceedings, while Russell Crowe makes the most of his scenes as his veteran CIA controller.

The drama, based on David Ignatius' best-selling novel, is compelling, and the suspense exemplary, as usual with Scott. It is magnificent movie-making with well-chosen locations adding verisimilitude to the tall tale.