FauxNixon

The Kingdom is a 2007 blockbuster that accomplishes something many mainstream Hollywood movies attempt and fail: it creates a realistic thriller based on realistic events and portrays both sides of the conflict in reasonably equal lights. Director Peter Berg tells us the story of a team of FBI agents who push their way into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an effort to investigate a terrorist attack in which Americans were killed.

Jamie Foxx stars as Special Agent Ronald Fleur, the lead agent in charge of the four agent team sent to investigate and he does so with the same skill that be brought to his characters in Collateral andAny Given Sunday. Chris Cooper and Jennifer Garner bring predictably solid performances as other agents of the team and the only one who stands out as a weaker performer is Jason Bateman as Special Agent Adam Leavitt.

The actor whose performance is truly remarkable is Ashraf Barhom playing Saudi Colonel Faris Al Ghazi who is stuck between the loyalty to his religion, his customs and his country, and his very sincere desire to see the people who perpetrated the attacks brought to justice. The depth of the character comes across very distinctly and it is remarkable that he has not been cast in many other movies, though with this performance on his resume, I can only imagine that will no longer be the case.

The movie’s portrayal of life in Saudi Arabia seems reasonably fair. There is a considerable glossing over of the religious policing and more oppressive aspects of society there, but this is well-covered by the sheltered and protected nature of the Americans visiting who are being protected diligently and perhaps overzealously by their Saudi guardians.

The editing and directorial style of Berg is very reminiscent of Tony Scott with lots of tracking shots and rapid editing that brings across an effectively pulse-pounding sense of urgency in the action sequences. Really, the film may be said to be a critical success as well as a financial success, but perhaps more importantly, something of a cultural success by bringing life in Saudi Arabia in however censored a format, to the view of many more American viewers.