The Kingdom (2007)

: Hot Potato


Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman

This film is timely and engrossing, with explosions, gun battles and middle east extremists amundo! The Kingdom is Saudi Arabia, where an oil company’s housing compound is attacked by Jihadist terrorists, killing Americans and Saudi State Police officers. The film uses the opening sequence to set up the political stage, using a timeline to illustrate the region’s influence over the United States’ ability to acquire oil. Post 9/11 relations with the Saudis are dubious and getting access to the crime scene proves difficult for a team of FBI agents, who are initially hamstrung by the political and diplomatic decision to butt out. Hmm, you mean diplomacy and justice are not always on the same page? Well, Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx), the team leader, is not going to take no for an answer, so he convinces the Saudis (with a little PR blackmail) to let them in to their country to investigate. Once there, you are constantly reminded of how tenuous their safety is, how dangerous it is for them to be there and be seen. You know they are being watched and plotted against, mislead and downright deceived. The police officer assigned to baby-sit them eventually takes them seriously, the Prince permits them more latitude and things really begin to rock and roll. The film keeps you engaged and provides plenty of action, but it’s brutal and shocking, so the kiddies should probably be in bed first before you watch this exploding potato.

PotatoPatti