The Kingdom (2007)

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

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer:

Matthew Michael Carnahan

Stars:

Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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 blackmails the South Arabian consul to get five days of investigation in the location. He travels with agent Grant Sykes, Janet Mayes and Adam Leavitt to revenge their friend and try to find those responsible for the bombing. The agents find all sorts of difficulties in their investigation, but they are supported by Colonel Faris Al Ghazi that advises the team how to act in a hostile environment.

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Plot Keywords:

saudi arabia | fbi | fbi agent | investigation | compound | 

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Taglines:

An elite FBI team sent to find a killer in a hostile country

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

United International Pictures [de] United International Pictures [jp]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

28 September 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

El reino

Filming Locations:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£919,537 (UK) (5 October 2007)

Gross:

$47,456,450 (USA) (22 November 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Forward Pass

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the intro, the scene with people playing in an outdoor pool is actual home-movie footage of the ARAMCO community pool at the Recreation Center in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

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Goofs

In some scenes Abu Dhabi taxi cabs are visible in the background.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in MTV Video Music Awards 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Stay (Wasting Time)"
Written by Dave Matthews (as David J. Matthews), Stefan Lessard, LeRoi Moore
Performed by Dave Matthews Band
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment

User Reviews

has the makings of something memorable but takes the easy way out

When a devastating terrorist attack occurs in Saudi Arabia resulting in the death of an American federal agent and several civilians, the FBI is reluctant to conduct their own investigation from fear of severing international relations with an uncooperative Saudi government. Foxx is the head of the bureau's Rapid Action team; accompanied by fellow agents Cooper (an explosives expert), and Garner (a forensic specialist), he leads an "unofficial" expedition to the site to try and seek out the guilty party. Political thriller has a realistic setup and three capable leads, but unfortunately the film rambles, and reduces itself to a revenge flick on its way to an action-packed climax that feels desperately contrived. The story is interesting but never convincing, especially the ending which is hollow and sentimental. **