After the horrific bombing of a U.S camp in Saudi Arabia and an explosion on the country's outskirts (resulting in the death of an F.B.I Agent) the American government realise that they have a major problem on their hands, but the insider politics of the situation makes a definite course of action hard to decide. However, Agent Fluery, spurred on by the death of his friend, assembles an elite force of agents and organises a secret 5 day trip to Saudi Arabia, known as the kingdom. Whilst there they are expected to follow the traditions and examples of the Saudi police, stopping them from following their own line of enquiry, until the kidnapping of one of the clan ignites an almighty showdown. The discovery of a selection of bomb makers and double crossers makes the situation messier. But will the conflict ever be resolved with any sort of rational outcome?

The Kingdom is a frantic, blistering hot-head of a movie; gung-ho in all respects, zealous in its frenetic style and speedy enough to offer huge amounts of dumb, empty headed entertainment. It's consistently taut, surprisingly disturbing and at least slightly intelligent, making for an explosive night in even if it's insistence on applying political resonance fail. It's mix of bullet storms and 'emotions' is compelling enough to grab your attention and it is a surprisingly 3 dimensional offering from Hollywood. The performances are all top rate and there are some genuinely gripping action sequences; with explosions, car chases and fight scenes aplenty. Half way through it loses all objectivity and slips into 'American's are the best and all other nations are scum', but for the most part it's a rollicking good time; a clever, interesting and visually arresting modern political thriller.

However, the film falls flat when trying to tag genuine political and religious resonance to the action; the Saudi Arabian characters aren't given enough depth and are largely vilified, the country's political climate is sloppily crafted and the American characters are seen as the 'heroes' of the piece. Thousands of Saudi Arabians are killed, yet there are no American fatalities and the idea that all foreign nations are brutal animals is very much on display. It is firmly (and quickly) established that the American's are the good guys and the Saudi's are the bad ones, that a victory for the United States is a victory for light and one for the Saudi's is a win for dark. The idea of peaceful negotiation is never really contemplated and it seems inevitable that the conflict has to end in complete bloodshed. And that sort of one sidedness makes the thing feel kind of flat; it closes the film down, locking out any chance of genuine interest or well roundedness. Still the screenplay does try; Sergeant Haytham is a sympathetic and well developed character with some genuinely touching lines of dialogue and is much more likeable than some of the Americans. And the violence caused by the U.S is shockingly portrayed. The finale is genuinely sad, disturbing and beautifully acted, with both sides suffering losses, and it definitely rings true. The idea that both sides ignorance is what leads to the conflict is one which is alarmingly true and serves as a final emotional low blow which makes the film far more scary and memorable than it should be.

The performances are largely spot on. Jamie Foxx puts in a compelling lead performance, managing to inject some emotion into his character, portraying Agent Fleury with intelligence and a strong screen presence. He has a good chemistry with the rest of the cast and adopts a sense of authority that makes his leadership of the agents very believable, natural and powerful. He digs for emotional impact in the last few reels and builds a strong relationship with Ali Suliman that swings from touching to scary in a couple of seconds. He seems more than capable of the action sequences and proves to be a gripping force within the film. Jennifer Garner isn't given a lot to do, but she puts in a likeable and intelligent performance, showing the softer side of the militant group and bringing a fresh, maternal dynamic to the film. She more than holds her own, grabbing the audience's attention whenever she's on screen with her balanced and rounded performance.

The Kingdom is an intense, blistering political thriller that amps up the intrigue and action whilst gripping on to a moral and political backbone. The mix doesn't always work and the film laps into gung-ho American patriotism too often, but it delivers the goods in style, direction, writing and performances. The script is sharp, the visuals arresting and the fight sequences top notch.