Film

A Grand 'Kingdom'

By Margarita Kurtz

Friday, September 28, 2007

‘The Kingdom’ is the latest film by director Peter Berg, creator of the critically acclaimed TV show Friday Night Lights. Berg knows how to deliver the goods: namely, non-stop action. His idea for the story of ‘The Kingdom’ came 10 years ago after the bombing of the Khobar Towers on June 2, 1996. It inflicted damage on a housing complex that contained foreign military and civilians. Hundreds of people on both the Western and Saudi sides were killed. It was the first time that the US and Saudi law enforcement officials collaborated to investigate the massive crime. This is precisely what the film is all about too.

‘The Kingdom’ hits the ground running and never lets you forget what the elite FBI team is there to do; which is to kick ass. This action-thriller opens with a heart-wrenching explosion in the Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Two suicide bombers dressed as the Saudi Royal police infiltrate the compound, and do their bloody damage while a little league game in progress. Moments later, a huge explosion occurs, creating further havoc and destruction. These two cowardly acts, plus the death of an FBI agent in the maelstrom, get the attention of Special Agent Fleury played by Jamie Fox who does a superlative job as the leader of the elite FBI team.

Fox shines in the role as the fatherly and sensitivity hero. After getting past the FBI bureaucracy, the elite FBI team is sent to Saudi Arabia to work closely with local law enforcement, headed by Col. Al-Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom). Barhom gives a great performance as the good cop from the Saudi police team. He is trying to do his job under intense scrutiny of his own team, the royal Saudi prince, and the Americans. The causalities of the bombing are both Westerners and Saudis; therefore, they need to work together to solve the crime.

Chris Cooper as Grant Sykes, the explosives expert and Jason Bateman as Adam Leavitt give solid performances as members of the FBI team who are no more thrilled to be in the scorching heat of Ryahdi than anyone else is, but with the clock ticking, they give it their all. Jennifer Garner does a decent job in a very delicate role as the only female member of the team. Considering the limitations placed on Muslim women in Saudi Arabia, it was a surprise to see Garner’s character, Janet Mayes, have such access. She is asked to cover up just once, when the royal Prince comes to greet them on the grounds of the Western compound. However, she is not included in the private meeting with the Prince. There is another sensitive scene in which, Mayes as the forensics specialist, is not allowed to touch the corpses of Muslims. Although she is a woman, she does prove to her teammates, that she can be just as tough and brutal as them.

During the latter part of the film, the action escalates which piques the audieces interest as well. The kidnapping of Adam Leavitt that occurs is reminiscent of the tragic Daniel Pearl story. This is one of several instances when the viewer is made aware of real-world headlines. The last line of the movie is very telling. It is definitely worth the price of admission and it sums up the tragedy on the both sides.

Whereas ‘The Kingdom’ could have easily slid into a jingoistic exercise in revenge for 9/11, Osama Bin Laden, the Iraq War, and the ongoing Middle East conflict, the last line of the movie demonstrates that the filmmakers are trying to show that there are no easy answers. The story moves at a brisk pace and it attempts to be even-handed in showing the tension on both sides of the cultural divide between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. ‘The Kingdom’ puts you in the middle of the action in a world being torn asunder by global terrorism.