Taking terrorism to the big screen
The Kingdom
It looks like, for now, there is no end to “radical Islam” based Hollywood movies. Films such as 2002's Sum of all Fears, The Siege and TV shows like “24” and “The Grid,” will come to mind while you are watching The Kingdom and for good reason. That said; Peter Berg's film is brutally entertaining, fast moving and unquestionably gripping.
The movie pitches us into a horrendous double attack on American Oil company workers and their families in Saudi Arabia. Four FBI agents, Jamie Foxx (Academy Award winner), Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman are secretly flown into The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, their job is to gather evidence and help determine who committed this crime within five days.
Obviously, the team finds opposition from the local Saudi authorities and US State Department representative (Jeremy Piven), who is constantly pushing to get them out of the country. And that does not quite include the folks who want them dead.
Personally, there is something disturbingly formulaic about the brutally well staged outbursts of violence, which arrive with a metronomic regularity that seem more opportunistic than natural. On the other hand, there is much to admire here, especially when things get really explosive towards the end of the film. Berg basically delivers breath taking action sequences and arresting visuals using a combination of handheld cameras, close-ups and fast cuts.
In terms of casting, what's most significant is that while much of viewer's attention might no doubt be focused on Foxx, Garner and Cooper, it is Colonel Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), a Saudi cop who steals every scene he's in. He gives The Kingdom an added edge against typical Muslim stereotypes by presenting himself as an exception to the prejudices of modern day society.
In a few words, it is nice to watch topical Hollywood movies that address significant issues, thus even though The Kingdom only touches the surface on “Terrorism,” if it opens up a few eyes it would have done its job.
It looks like, for now, there is no end to “radical Islam” based Hollywood movies. Films such as 2002's Sum of all Fears, The Siege and TV shows like “24” and “The Grid,” will come to mind while you are watching The Kingdom and for good reason. That said; Peter Berg's film is brutally entertaining, fast moving and unquestionably gripping.
The movie pitches us into a horrendous double attack on American Oil company workers and their families in Saudi Arabia. Four FBI agents, Jamie Foxx (Academy Award winner), Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman are secretly flown into The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, their job is to gather evidence and help determine who committed this crime within five days.
Obviously, the team finds opposition from the local Saudi authorities and US State Department representative (Jeremy Piven), who is constantly pushing to get them out of the country. And that does not quite include the folks who want them dead.
Personally, there is something disturbingly formulaic about the brutally well staged outbursts of violence, which arrive with a metronomic regularity that seem more opportunistic than natural. On the other hand, there is much to admire here, especially when things get really explosive towards the end of the film. Berg basically delivers breath taking action sequences and arresting visuals using a combination of handheld cameras, close-ups and fast cuts.
In terms of casting, what's most significant is that while much of viewer's attention might no doubt be focused on Foxx, Garner and Cooper, it is Colonel Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), a Saudi cop who steals every scene he's in. He gives The Kingdom an added edge against typical Muslim stereotypes by presenting himself as an exception to the prejudices of modern day society.
In a few words, it is nice to watch topical Hollywood movies that address significant issues, thus even though The Kingdom only touches the surface on “Terrorism,” if it opens up a few eyes it would have done its job.
