As previously noted, I had zero interest in seeing the film The Kingdom until I saw the amazing opening credit sequence, at which point it went on my must-see list. It has since been moved to my have-seen list…
Let me start off by saying that the opening credit sequence is even more powerful on the big screen than I thought it would be, which is saying a lot. The part that depicts the events of 9/11 gets me every time. I saw the film with my buddy Jake and he mentioned that he heard someone next to him comment about how amazing the credits are, though it’s possible that was me muttering to myself. It is unquestionably moving, thought-provoking, and compelling.
The rest of the film: not so much.
That’s not to say it’s a bad film, because it’s not bad at all, it’s just very different than what the opening credits sets up. The film is a really intense action-crime-drama set in Saudi Arabia. Politics are largely left at the door. The film spends little to no time dealing with oil, the intricacies of the ruling class, the proliferation of fanaticism, the US military presence, their interactions with the US government, or how any of that actually plays a part in international terrorism. Come to think of it, there’s really no acknowledgment of international terrorism at all; it’s as if Saudi Arabia existed in a sand-filled vacuum.
Walking out of the theater I was left trying to figure out what the film was trying to say. That is, I couldn’t figure out if there was a point.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like empty action movies as much as the next guy (Live Free or Die Hard anyone), but not only is the opening credit sequence misleading, but I think the subject matter lends itself to some form of intelligent analysis. I’m not looking for another Syriana (crap no!), but, you know, some kind of point of view would be nice.
In all fairness, the film did leave me wondering: where the hell do people in the Middle East keep getting rocket launchers from? Seriously, it’s like every asshole in Saudi Arabia has one. Aren’t these guys supposed to be ass poor? There’s ten of them living in a tiny one bedroom apartment. Maybe, I don’t know, if these guys spent some of their rocket launcher cash on some nicer digs they wouldn’t be filled with so much jihadist fury. Is there an Ikea in Saudi Arabia? Maybe the State Department should look into that.
I have to say, the lack of story depth notwithstanding, the film is incredibly well done. It’s surprisingly funny, has some real emotion, is mindblowingly intense, well acted (generally), and I found the images of Saudi Arabia absolutely stunning. Jamie Foxx did a great job, as did Ashraf Barhom who plays his Saudi counterpart. Chris Cooper is Chris Cooper, which is fine. Jennifer Garner could have easily been replaced by any actress. Jason Bateman and Jeremy Piven were there for comedic relief, and, while appreciated, were extremely annoying.
The story itself is a bit over-Hollywoodized, with a lot of intense American ass-kicking, and one scene that was almost unbearably Disneyesque, but is redeemed at the last minute (I don’t want to spoil it). Personally, I thought the “America! Fuck Yeah!” attitude of the film was fine, but my aforementioned buddy Jake (who actually made the Team America reference which I now claim as my own) seemed to have a problem with it. Just keep that in mind.
Overall, I do recommend the flick, if only for the opening credits. I joked that I could have just walked out after the credits and been perfectly happy, though I am very glad I didn’t do that. If you like intense action movies I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Just don’t go into it expecting to have something to talk about afterwards… unless you’re interested in having an in depth discussion about the proliferation of rocket launchers in Saudi Arabia.
A Word About Intensity
My repeated use of the word intense is something of an inside joke, but it’s actually the best word to describe this movie. It doesn’t hold back, to the point that it might be a bit much to deal with. Specifically, you see every terrorist act in gruesome detail. It’s something I don’t think the commercials prepare you for.
Tags: Movie Reviews