I maintain about a 20' wide strip across the back of my place, and it does provide a good privacy barrier. It runs long roots out across my entire yard however, and must be maintained constantly to keep it from getting out of hand.
If I go two weeks without mowing, I will have cane shoot over two feet high. In really wet weather, it will grow 4-5" in 24 hours.
Be sure you want it, because like kudzu, you will always have it.
Ben