OLESYA SALNIKOVA
A&E Assistant
Saudi Arabia is the number one oil producer in the world, while the United States is the number one oil consumer in the world, so it makes sense that the United States is interested in Saudi affairs. This modern-day tension sets the scene for the newly released film “The Kingdom,” which depicts American forces targeted in deadly attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The minute FBI Agent Fleury, played by Jaime Foxx (“Jarhead,” “Miami Vice”), gets a phone call from a special agent stationed in Riyadh, his world is turned upside down. He learns of the brutal explosions and hatred that is tearing apart Saudi-U.S relations. As his trusted friend and special agent dies in Riyadh, just minutes after the phone call, Agent Fleury realizes that it will take more than grief and vengeance to find the criminals behind the attacks.
He assembles a secret team of U.S counter-terrorism investigators to enter the city and find the perpetrators. But, everything is not as black and white as it may seem. The crew not only encounters a flood of difficulties in getting a blessing from the U.S government, but has just five days to investigate the city, find the killer and apprehend him.
Once the team of investigators find their way into Saudi Arabia, they encounter bureaucracratic problems, quickly realizing that their life-threatening investigation is unwelcome. Put under the strict watch of a Saudi Arabian police officer, played by Ashraf Barhoum (“Paradise Now”), Agent Fleury and his team become desperate to gain the trust of the Saudi royal family to accomplish their mission.
As they find clues and secrets buried deep within street-corners, pools of filthy water and even marbles, they begin to understand that they could be the next terrorist target. Directed by Peter Berg, “The Kingdom” is a chilling reminder of the fervently religious hatred that is boiling beneath terrorist roots, and the devastating consequences that can occur because of it.
Despite the film’s controversial and highly political implications, it does not place any concrete blame, revealing both good and bad Saudi Arabians and good and bad Americans. In an especially touching scene, the Saudi officers looking out for Agent Fleury’s team are shown getting ready for bed with their families. One officer is reading to his kids, who are lying on his lap, while the other is shown praying with his dying father.
These kinds of scenes in the film reveal the humanity in every culture, despite their differences, and that hatred does not exist everywhere. These powerful concepts are explored throughout the film, as the fight against “terrorism” becomes more complicated and personal.
“The Kingdom” is fast-paced and intellectually and politically stimulating, as the audience gets an inside look into how terrorism is consuming an entire country and its people. It is realistic and believable, terrifying and touching. Everything that viewers are used to seeing on the news is given life and personality, as the War on Terror becomes personal and subjective.
The only aspect of the film that is out of rhythm is the random lines meant to lighten an otherwise serious subject. Some of the jokes are out of place and unnecessary in the overall plot. However, it is obvious to the audience that the War on Terror, the political issues with Saudi Arabia and the incessant terror attacks are indeed a solemn reality in our lives.
The acting was effortlessly superb, minus the random stabs at comedy, and Foxx creates a convincing and dominant personality in the film. His exchanges, particularly with Barhoum, proved to be extremely poignant because of their characters’ identification with one another. Jennifer Garner (“Daredevil,” “13 Going on 30”) played a surprisingly tough-minded special agent, especially after her history with romantic comedies.
“The Kingdom” is an excellent film, not just about the War on Terror, but about the mutual misconceptions people, today, face regarding those who are different.
10-04-2007
