KEY POINTS:
Herald Rating: ***
The Kingdom's opening credits are a clever graphic-driven history lesson about the United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia, briefly introducing us to local and international politics. It's engaging and implies we're in for a political thriller. However, The Kingdom is more a simple, action-packed
"shoot 'em up" flick, and so you're not too disappointed, it's best viewed this way.
Film director Michael Mann has a producing credit on this film, but his on-screen influence is undeniable. Actor-turned-director Peter Berg would have been foolish not to make the most of Mann's experience pulling together the large-scale action pieces, and he's made a film with a slickness reminiscent of Mann's recent work in Miami Vice and Collateral.
Jamie Foxx stars as FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury, who leads a contingent of four agents on a secret five-day mission into Saudi Arabia to investigate a bombing in a Western housing block that has killed many innocent civilians and some FBI agents.
It's a highly dangerous and contentious mission, and once in Saudi Arabia the team face heavy restrictions on their activities. With the help of local policeman Al-Ghazi (Barhoum), they learn more in a few days about what happened than an army of Saudi soldiers and policemen, and it becomes a race against time to find the suspected terrorists and get out of Saudi alive.
A father and a patriot, Foxx's character is a serious man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. But his performance is all look - and a blank look at that. Foxx is shown up by the ever-cool Chris Cooper as the chirpy, experienced bomb expert Grant Sykes, and Jason Bateman as token funny guy Special Agent Adam Leavitt.
Garner's character, forensic scientist Janet Mayes, is largely redundant for the first three-quarters of this film. She cries more than you'd expect of a hardened FBI agent, and you do wonder if she is just there to highlight the differences in dress between Muslim and Western women. Then, out of nowhere, she steals the show with an intense fight scene. She too wipes Foxx off the screen.
Needless to say, the politics are muddled, subjective and without much insight. If you're after a thought-provoking look into the complex relationship America has with the Middle East over oil, then you're better off renting Syriana. If you are after a gripping action film with an exotic backdrop, then The Kingdom will definitely keep you happy.
Cast: Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jamie Foxx, Jeremy Piven, Ashraf Barhoum Director: Peter Berg Running time: 112 mins Rating: R16, contains graphic violence and offensive language Screening: SkyCity, Berkeley Verdict: An entertaining but lightweight wannabe political thriller