Traffic works but Syriana doesn't

There are a lot of similarities between Traffic and Syriana since both movies are written by the same writer Stephen Gaghan. However, Syriana doesn't work as a movie while Traffic works well as a movie.

Both Traffic and Syriana tell a couple of different stories simultaneously. Traffic tells a story in Mexico. The movie also tells a story in Washington D.C. There is also a story taking place in Cincinnati. All stories are connected. Syriana also tells a couple of different stories. There is a story in Texas. There is a story taking place in Washington D.C. There is, of course, a big story in the middle east (since the movies is about oil), and we also see a story taking place in Europe. All are connected.

There is an unified message in Traffic. Though we are not 100% convinced that war on drugs will end any time soon, the movie gives a rather optimistic view on the subject. There is a family helping each other to get young woman out of the problem of drug abuse. There are men who fight within their ability to bring down drug lords. Some drug lords and thugs get caught in the end. Though probably not everyone in the audience sees it realistic, the movie delivers a pretty clear message; there is something that every one of us can do. The problem of Syriana is that there is no unified message. Oil industry gets what they want in the end more or less, but Bryan Woodman (played by Matt Damon) does not belong to any side. He does not become one of those who just help out the oil industry to get what they want, nor does he fight against the oil industry. The movie is roughly 2 hours long, so the story becomes quite confusing if the movie does not have a clear and consistent message. Syriana does not have a clear and consistent message, and this is why Syriana does not work well as a movie.