Dunk Films - by Christopher Waldeck

[ Previous ] [ Next ]

REVIEW: The Kingdom (2007)

April 8th 2008 11:36

The film The Kingdom is set around modern day terrorism in Saudi Arabia. After terrorists infiltrate a compound, opening fire and exploding grenades around innocent men, women and children, an onsite American investigating team attempt to implement damage control only to have a car bomb detonate and kill them all. An FBI counter terrorism team (Foxx, Garner, Cooper, Bateman) comes together to defy their government and travel to Saudi Arabia in an effort to find who is responsible. At their arrival, they discover the cultural barriers are immense, and not only are they not needed, but also not wanted. After defying their government and flying half way around the world, they soon learn that they are only there to observe and report back to the Saudi Arabian military. Through watching the Saudi Arabian investigators miss evidence, witnesses and walking in circles, the team soon finds themselves at the centre of the investigation. Through their efforts in tracking down those who are responsible, they are soon ambushed and one of them (Bateman) is kidnapped and soon to be made an example of. The FBI team find out where Bateman is held and launch a successful assault to retrieve him.

The film stars Jamie Foxx in the title role, but he is surrounded with acting talent such as Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper who finds himself playing in an unusual positive role, and Jason Bateman. Peter Berg who has directed such films as Friday Night Lights and Welcome to the Jungle, directs this film and shoots the bulk of it in Phoenix, Arizona. The film is written by Mathew Michael Carnahan, who also wrote Lions for Lambs and is gathering a reputation for constructing big time screenplays. The Kingdom has being nominated for an outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble in a motion picture by the screen writers guild, the picture is rated R and runs for approximately 110 minutes.

The Kingdom gives the viewers a first hand account of everyday life in the Middle East, illustrating what steps are put in place to achieve the notion that everybody is safe. Jamie Foxx continues his succession in picking the right scripts while Jason Bateman introduced himself to the world of action/drama as well as providing some of his comical style. Director Peter Berg out does himself in bringing the amazing differences in culture to the big screen. One of the most amazing attributes of this screenplay written by Mathew Michael Carnahan is the ending. As Foxx’s character meets with the son of his recently deceased Arabian bodyguard, there is a feeling that there is hope in the world and that everyone can live peacefully. However, in the next scene on this idealistic view is soon forgotten as it is revealed that both sides, Western and Middle East both share the same view that “We are going to kill them all”, bringing us back to the realistic world that we all live in.

Travis Duncan

125

Vote

Add To: