2008 Woodie Awards
'Kingdom' is high with action and excitement
Martin Wood
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Features
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Directed by actor-turned-director Peter Berg, "The Kingdom" is an action-packed thriller filled with realistic, terrorist mayhem. Berg, who also directed "Friday Night Lights," once again shows his skill in filming high-speed, intense scenes.
The film starts off with a quick five-minute historical slideshow, giving the audience the history of the real-life connection between Saudi Arabia and the United States, as created by the oil market.
The clip crammed too much into the first five minutes for the average audience who has just finished silencing cell phones and begun reaching for the popcorn.
However, with a little extra attention, the short montage works by giving us the background information we need before we get propelled into the storyline.
The first scene of a fun, friendly softball game suddenly runs amok when several rampaging terrorists target the American civilians. After a series of drive-by shootings on fleeing unarmed civilians, a suicide bomber screams "glory to Allah" before detonating himself in the frenzy of escaping Americans.
When the action seems to be over, an American team attempts to investigate until a larger bomb takes the lives of more than 100, including the investigation team. The scene easily catches the audience off-guard and serves as a precursor to the capabilities of the ruthless terrorists.
Upon news of losing their teammate and comrade, FBI special agent Ronald Fleury, played by Jamie Foxx, and forensic specialist Janet Mayes, played by Jennifer Garner, take it personal and demand they are a part of the investigation. Due to the hostile environment in Saudi Arabia, safety liability limits their ability to investigate freely in the measly five days they were given.
With the help of an explosives expert and an intelligence analyst, the team of four Americans is escorted through the country by Saudi Col. Faris Al Ghazi. The Saudi government provides adequate security from the terrorists, but also acts as an obstacle by limiting their investigation range to insure their safety.
The "bad guy" of the movie emerges to be Abu Hamza, the Bin Laden equivalent of modern times, who is known to be the Saudi version of "Robin Hood." Hamza is very powerful, with access to Saudi government uniforms and American weapons, while also having all the manpower he needs. The ability for the terrorists to blend in with civilians is the largest problem for ensuring the team's safety, as it is in current-day Iraq.
Throughout the team's perilous search for justice, Foxx steals the show and constantly leads the team with his spontaneous decision making and authoritative way of getting what he wants. Even before reaching Saudi soil, Foxx hardballs with the Saudi ambassador in order to get the permission he needs to investigate the scene. Foxx also shows his soft side when dealing with kids and provides us with the all-around hero.
Garner also puts on a standout performance as a tomboy forensic genius who not only has to overcome the cultural barrier, but also the Saudi gender rules assigned to women. Garner brings back the toughness of her "Alias" days as she battles with gun-toting terrorists twice her size. However, it is her feminine sensitivity towards a young child that extracts a crucial clue in the investigation.
The action scenes may seem a little far-fetched realistic-wise, but that's Hollywood. Seeing Garner kicking down doors and fending off terrorists hand-to-hand may be a little too much for action buffs, but it also gives the audience more suspense when rooting for the underdog.
The action scenes are the highlight of the film and will create excitement for an audience that isn't expecting a documentary after all.
Another surprisingly strong performance was set by Ashraf Barhom who played the street-smart Col. Faris Al Ghazi. Driven by honor, Al Ghazi not only serves as an interpreter between languages but provides the team with cultural balance.
Al Ghazi not only speaks both languages well, but has the connections to locals which can supply the team with the clues they need. Seldom does a foreign, unknown actor get a major good-guy role and Barhom's performance is a breath of fresh air.
"The Kingdom" has plenty of gun play for the action-lovers, but also is not your average good-guy/bad-guy action flick. Berg alternatively shares the perspective between each side as if the audience is a neutral eyewitness and not attached to the traditional follow-the-good-guy plot.
The film also sprinkles much-needed humor between action scenes to tone down the audience reaction. Known for his comedy, Foxx wasn't the only one cracking situational jokes, which lightened up their problems, particularly in regards to the culture barrier. I especially liked the cultural jokes between Al Ghazi and the Americans which allowed the audience to identify with the cast.
Overall, the film met my high expectations and will get a second look on DVD as a rental. Don't expect a documentary from "The Kingdom" and seeing it in the theatre will help appreciate the in-your-face action.
"The Kingdom" provides audiences a mix of investigative suspense with intense and often spontaneous action scenes keeping people on the edges of their seats as the team not only fights for justice, but also for survival.
"Kingdom" opens today.
Martin Wood can be reached at mwood@statehornet.com
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