The Kingdom (2007)

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer (WGA):

Matthew Michael Carnahan (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Trust No One

Plot:

A team of U.S. government agents is sent to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East.

Plot Keywords:

Government Agent | Gymnasium | Black American Hero | Praying | FBI

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Sept. 12

8:30 PM

HBO

Cast

Jamie Foxx	...	Ronald Fleury
Chris Cooper	...	Grant Sykes
Jennifer Garner	...	Janet Mayes
Jason Bateman	...	Adam Leavitt
Ashraf Barhom	...	Colonel Faris Al Ghazi
Ali Suliman	...	Sergeant Haytham
Jeremy Piven	...	Damon Schmidt
Richard Jenkins	...	Robert Grace
Tim McGraw	...	Aaron Jackson
Kyle Chandler	...	Francis Manner
Frances Fisher	...	Elaine Flowers
Danny Huston	...	Gideon Young
Kelly AuCoin	...	Ellis Leach
Anna Deavere Smith	...	Maricella Canavesio
Minka Kelly	...	Miss Ross

Also Known As:

Operation: Kingdom (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for intense sequences of graphic brutal violence, and for language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Germany:16 | Philippines:R-13 | USA:R (certificate #43538) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Africa:16LV | Japan:PG-12 | Taiwan:R-12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:MA | Malaysia:18SG | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Norway:15 | France:-12 | Denmark:15 | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Kuwait:(Banned) | Ireland:15A | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Jennifer Garner collapsed on the set in Phoenix twice due to the extremely high temperature, over 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Saguaro cacti visible in the scenes shot in Arizona (freeway attack scenes).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator #1: After capturing most of the Arabian Peninsula with the help of the Wahhabi Islamic warriors, Ibn Saud establishes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-09-29)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Stay (Wasting Time)

A Noisy Collection of Stereotypes and Prejudice

After a terrorist attack to an American housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where families and the spy Francis Manner are murdered, FBI agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) blackmails the South Arabian consul to get five days of investigation in the location. He travels with agent Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner) and Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman) to revenge their friend and try to find the responsible for the bombing. The agents find all sorts of difficulties in their investigation, but they are supported by Colonel Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) that advises the team how to act in a hostile environment.

After the promising beginning of "The Kingdom" and with the names of Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner in the cast, I was expecting a great movie. Unfortunately the weak and imbecile screenplay discloses only a noisy collection of stereotypes and prejudice through an absurd story. If the FBI was not allowed to investigate the crime scene, "uncle Fran" was certainly a spy not respecting the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia. Further, how can an elite team be composed by agents seeking revenge, not familiarized with the culture of Saudi Arabia, not speaking their language and bringing a woman in their mission? Last but not the least, the excessive shootout and the awful camera are irritating in a certain moment. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Reino" ("The Kingdom")