Synopsis: Terrorists shock the world by attacking a protected area in Saudi Arabia and killing a number of Americans in a daytime suicide bombing. The brutality of the attack immediately draws the attention of the FBI. Realizing the intelligence and planning behind the attack is none other than senior Jihadi leadership, the FBI immediately assembles an elite team headed by FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) to meet the terrorists head on. From the moment they set foot on Saudi soil, every member of the team has already been marked for death. In an age of psychological warfare, the Jihadists are ready to give the lives of ten for just one of Ronald’s team. With time running out, the team must work against a hostile administration, cultural and idealogical barriers and get back home alive.

My Review: (Spoiler alert) Much is expected from The Kingdom on the back of previous movies focused on the Middle East like Syriana. To defeat the anti-western movement, the US needs to engage in a tough psychological battle and reassure Americans that they are safe even in the heart of the Islamic world. They face battle on multiple fronts with an intelligent enemy whose leader is unclear and whose roots are deep and widespread. The movie is well-researched and I found myself totally immersed in tense situations on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next move.

The story line pokes fun at the tenuous relationship that binds the United States and Saudi Arabia. Despite the Saudi royal families best intentions, they are hardly in control of the millions of petro-dollars that finance terror operations from their homeland. The Americans on the other hand, are portrayed as gung-ho and ready to pick a fight wherever they think they are needed, or not.

Saudi Police chief investigator, Col. Faris Al Ghazi’s (Ashraf Barhom) character plays the perfect foil for both the disconnected Saudi administration and agent Fleury whose motivation is vengeance. Al Ghazi is sketched out as a man under pressure from higher ups, the Saudi Army and ignorant Americans who seem hell bent on violating every cultural and administrative limitation placed. He understands eventually that he needs to work with Fleury’s team so that they can hunt down the perpetrators of the attack. It is left up to American ingenuity to bridge the last mile. Listen closely to the screenplay to discover how.

The Kingdom promises an entertaining, high octane thriller with a message. The plot has glaring holes as the astute viewer will point out and the level of violence portrayed can be at times brutal and shocking (don’t take your kids). I would place the movie alongside Black Hawk Down for its dominating patriotic theme - We are trying to save the world one country at a time.

Cast: Jamie Foxx (Miami Vice), Chris Cooper (The Bourne Supremacy), Jennifer Garner, Ashraf Barhom.

Director: Peter Berg (Lions for Lambs).

Duration: 110 minutes.

Rated (India): A

Release Date (India): 30th November, 2007.

Get Tickets and Showtimes for The Kingdom for Pune.

(7 votes for this post, score: 4.14 out of 5)

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