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:

FBI | Saudi Arabia | Compound | Investigation | FBI Agent

Awards:

2 nominations

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)
El reino (Argentina) (Mexico) (Venezuela) [es]
Le royaume (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
O Reino (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
A királyság (Hungary) [hu]
Království (Czech Republic) [cs]
Krallik (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kuningriik (Estonia) [et]
La sombra del reino (Spain) [es]
Zoni ypsilou kindynou (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Peter Berg]one of the FBI agents at the briefing about the al-Rahmah attack at the Washington DC Field Office

Goofs:

Continuity: After the Saudi commandos raid the bomb makers hideout and kill them all, Damon Schmidt comes in and starts talking with the FBI agents. He then goes over to the wall and picks up one of the assault rifles against the wall by the barrel. Fleury tells him to put it back and he is now holding the rifle by the grip.

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 "Wetten, dass..?: Wetten, dass..? aus Basel (#1.170)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Stay (Wasting Time)

entertaining and more than an action flick

The plot is twisting and the movie overall spectacular, although this Jason Bourne style story cannot be taken too seriously, in my opinion. The director, just to make the product more real and grab the attention, tries to add complexity and depth but the level reminds somehow the one of episodic TV. There are a few surprises, some forensic elements and the flick bears some resemblance to Syriana, that was a well done film. Action is undeniably spectacular but Jennifer Garner is not that believable and conceptual flaws are present in the plot. The finale is tear jerker but makes sense eventually, since it's not so far from reality..