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The Kingdom film review
THE KINGDOM
Running time: 110 mins
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman, Ashraf Barhom, Jeremy Piven
The Kingdom opens with a timeline marking all the significant moments in America's history with Saudi Arabia, leading up to the events of 9/11. Such a beginning might lead one to reasonably assume The Kingdom would go on to provide an illuminating insight into the complicated and delicate political situation in the middle east. But other than an occasional acknowledgement of the cultural differences between the two nations, the film is a thoroughly conventional, serviceably proficient, action drama. The location may be different, but everything else is all too familiar.
Perhaps there should be praise offered for keeping jingoism to a tolerable level and for trying to underscore the universal pain suffered by both sides, but the cliched and overt manner in which this message is delivered undermines its effect, making it feel like a device to lend the film weight rather than be an integral element of the story.
Events begin in a brutal way with a terrorist attack on an American housing compound in Saudi Arabia. The graphic images and the devastation are designed to evoke memories of September 11, 2001. Back in America, the government is warned against sending over anyone to investigate, as the arrival of additional Americans in what is already a hostile environment would only inflame tensions. The American presence in the country is resented by many, but allowed by those who benefit from profitable oil agreements with the US, like the Prince on whose land the compound is situated.
But no one tells Americans what they can and can't do so FBI special agent Captain Fleury (Jamie Foxx), who lost a close friend in the attack, manages to set up a covert mission to visit the country for five days to try and track down the terrorists. He takes with him bomb expert Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), forensic technician Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner) and Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman) whose inclusion appears primarily to be to provide the obligatory wise-cracking comedian such teams require, for the screen anyway.
Once there, they are chaperoned by Saudi policeman Colonel Ali Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) who embodies the west's typical idea of what a middle-eastern commander is like. He is initially depicted as hostile and unhelpful, but after being seen at home as a loving father, he is suddenly portrayed as a regular human, friendly and, more importantly, an ally. The transition is all too abrupt and pat to be convincing. Director Peter Berg is proficient rather than inspired and Matthew Michael Carnahan's script provides little in the way of absorbing characters, making the performances rather wooden and hollow.
The climactic shootout is industry standard fare, being ludicrously implausible, but acceptably dramatic. The heroic team's speedy and proficient work makes a mockery of the complex political situation that is the reality. If only it was this straightforward, Fleury and Co, would have tracked down Osama Bin Laden years ago. But this is Hollywood's version of reality so take it all with a pinch of popcorn.
Kevin Murphy
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