Matt Damon has plans for the evening, and he’s dreading it.
He has to attend the glitzy New York premiere of director Stephen Gaghan’s political thriller “Syriana,” in which Damon plays an energy analyst caught up in Middle East intrigue. Sounds like an exciting evening, but Damon is not a red-carpet kind of guy.
Since winning an Oscar in 1998 for co-writing (with Ben Affleck) the screenplay for “Good Will Hunting,” he has pretty much shunned the bright lights and tabloid headlines for a low-key acting career that has had its share of ups (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Oceans 11” and the “Bourne” films) and downs (“The Brothers Grimm” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance”).
His career is up right now with this weekend’s release of “Syriana,” and three more prestige projects in the works — “The Good Shepherd,” directed by Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and Steven Soderbergh’s “The Informant.”
One of the most well-liked actors in Hollywood, Damon’s personal life also is heading in the right direction. He’s bought a new home, is engaged to a woman with a 7-year-old daughter and has quit smoking.
Q. How long did it take you to figure out what “Syriana” meant?
A Pretty quickly because I asked.
Q. Why don’t you enlighten me?
A. It’s the name think tanks have come up with for the dream state you’d have with a unified Middle East.
Q. Why did you want to do it?
A. I loved the script.
Q. Did you think it was a risky move?
A. No, I don’t think there’s anything risky about being in a good movie.
Q. Even a movie with such a political bent?
A. It’s not a partisan rant. Stephen met with everybody, from Republicans and Democrats to the head of Hezbollah.
Q. He met with the head of Hezbollah?
A. I’m telling you that he met with everybody.
Q. I sense that there are some who feel it is a liberal diatribe against the government.
A. That would be a shame if they dismissed it . . . it makes an anti-corruption statement.
If you’re for corruption, then you’re probably going to be against “Syriana.”
Q. You’re working with Scorsese and De Niro. That’s some pretty heavy company you’re keeping these days.
A. You’re telling me. If I mess this up, I’m done.
Q. Why are you working so much?
A. These are things I can’t say no to. It’s as simple as that.
