Review of The Kingdom (2007) by Jay R — 15 Nov 2010

Think Syriana for dummies. Director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) certainly takes his sweet time building up to all out chaos, but that seems to make it all that more effective. The movies starts with a bang and then it slowly turns to boredom as we are riddled with FBI procedure and clearance crap, then bombarded with intros to characters and it seems like this is going to be an episode of CSI.

But just when you are about to say, okay this movie is boring, you are blown through the back of your seat by the last 40 minutes. I knew exactly what was going to happen but the way Peter Berg delivered it literally made me jump and one scene just again (literally) left me gasping for air.

The performances are great and Jason Bateman provides some much needed comic relief for such a serious subject. The wrap-up after the action is both heartfelt and thought provoking on how the situation with Saudi Arabia is messed up.

Jaime Foxx is great but he also allows Chris Cooper(Jarhead) and Jennifer Garner(Elektra, and the TV show Alias) to give their two-cents worth. The film all in all leaves and impact and it was very quiet in the theatre when I walked out for a good reason.

The movie delivers, but you just have to be patient. Thumbs up!