Susan GrangerÕs review of ‘The Kingdom” (Universal Pictures)
If you like compelling, politically provocative, action-packed entertainment, donÕt miss Peter BergÕs ÒThe KingdomÓ Ð with a timely plot plucked from current events.
The title sequence deftly summarizes AmericaÕs involvement with Saudi Arabia, delineating how oil has not only made us dependent on the friendship of the Royal Family but has also incited the wrath of Wahabi militants within the Kingdom.
When thereÕs a massive suicide bomber attack on an American compound, aimed at oil company workers and their families, two Saudi officers are also shot. While the FBI usually investigates when Americans are murdered on foreign soil, the Attorney General (Danny Huston) refuses to authorize any official action, preferring to leave it to the diplomats. But Special Agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) prevails Ð one of his colleagues was killed Ð and assembles a top-notch team (Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman). Given only five days, they must circumvent an abrasive American diplomat (Jeremy Piven), sort through the debris and find the culprit, accompanied by Saudi Colonel Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) and Police Sergeant Haytham (Ali Suliman).
.Loosely based on the 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, and directed by Peter Berg, the procedural – yet gung-ho – screenplay attempts to delineate the culture clash. While Foxx is revenge-driven, heÕs also a devoted father; GarnerÕs a lollipop-loving combatant, etc. Ð and this complexity extends to the Arab characters too. But, rather than exuding gritty authenticity, Mauro FioreÕs jerky, handheld camerawork is confusing Ð and annoying.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, ÒThe KingdomÓ is an exciting 8. But thereÕs an inherent problem: the concept that only Americans can solve the worldÕs problems could be what got us into our on-going conflict in the first place.
