Its common knowledge that Yellow Gold does not ignite as much as BLACK GOLD does!!Yellow ignites happiness, borders the territory of the rich, Black ignites PASSION, LUST, INTRIGUE and more so FIRE to WIN over it!!
KINGDOM, is domain and borders on what people will do to keep it!!To script on an issue is an act of bravery but to successfully film it is sheer audacity!! All the emotions of a POWER HUNGRY pack of mad hatters who think that POWER is the Key to rule are seen here in their finest, most treacherous and cunning best!! I wonder if these adjectives are applicable to the Story writer Matthew Michael Carnahan??
He has done huge justice to the mind games, the mentality of the ** jehadis’ and also the power games people play.
The Director, Peter Berg, of Chicago Hope TV series, The Rundown etc has tried his hand at showing reality and has done it with a lot of flourish. The most important thing that struck me is that he has kept his camera work very simple, using steadicam he has kept and generated pace at the same time and at the right places. He has been able to get the thrill in a sequence and has also been able to get the magnamity of a situation sink in the viewers mind!! Ni mindless violence here but plain, simp, e hard facts!! His story telling is in one simple word amazing!!
The film begins with a small all American camp situated within the heart of the KINGDOM. This colony suddenly errupts into an area of mass destruction. A bloody area of entangled masses women and children notwithstanding!! This scene sets the pace for the rest to follow. The most burning issue of "How should terrorism be treated?" is treated and shown in the stark naked reality that it should be seen and treated with. No bureaucratic doorways to cross here but hard hitting questions for which the US Government wants answers.This means a team of hard trained and intelligent agents of the FBI Ronald Fleury - Jamie Foxx, Grant Sykes -Chris Cooper, Janet Mayes - Jennifer Garner, Adam Leavitt - Jason Bateman have to set foot in the KINGDOM, sear their own way and dodge the vnoms of the snaky jehadis’ who will stop at nothing when it comes to Islam!! The team lands in the Kingdom of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is greeted by Col Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), Sergeant Haytham (Ali Suliman) and promptly deposited in a Gym where dormitory like arrangements are made for them to spend their 5 dyas in the Kingdom.
What happens during their investigative process?? Is the Saudia Governement aiding the Americans and tolerating their interference?? These are question that you can find on the DVD nicely sitting in the shop next to you!!
Jamie Foxx, has nothing much to do in terms of acting but his resilience, patience, his intense emotion are very well exhibited here. He does complete justice to his role and together with his team members gives the film the raciness and the rawness of the situation they are in!
Jennifer Garner looks stunning after her motherhood and she has shown what she is capable of (ALIAS), in more ways than one.Her fetish for lolipops coms in handy to save the day for these agents. In one word she is **awesome!
Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman **are apt and have done the needful.
The selection of cast for the Saudians has been done perfectly. Faris played by Ashraf is very typical and has shown us that he can be very competitive and can deliver. He has a good screen presence and has done complete justice to his role!! Haytham enacted by Ali has stood his own very firmly and has been very effective in his role too!!
Cinematigraphy by Mauro Fiore is **outstanding!! His steadicam work, use of jimmy jibs give you the depth and bring out the emotion in every scene. He has to his credit films like The Call, Smokin’ Aces etc...
In short do not miss this KINGDOM, you might just be bombarded by the jehadi :))