Welcome to Hollyweird’s not-so-new cash cow . . . the mid-east war movie. In this iteration of entertainment exploiting an American tragedy in the name of good ol’ capitalism (because they don’t call it ‘The Industry’ for nothing), a misfit cast interprets an unlikely script to manipulate your heart rate, heart strings, and hard earned cash.
The most featured foible of this film is the cast. Apparently the director was on vacation during the solicitation process, and in his absence, the PA responsible for making calls learned that every serious, A-list contender for a headlining role was taking a hash break in Amsterdam, meditating with aliens, or filming a feature that didn’t exploit a travesty of US military politics. He then began selecting actors by walking through Wal-Mart and randomly aiming a laser pointer at the second feature of those DVD 2-paks that contain one movie you want but can’t find paired with a movie no sane person would ever purchase.
This is hardly the fault of the actors. Jamie Foxx certainly proved he had acting chops in ‘Ray’, but here he’s filling a role that was obviously written for Denzel. Jennifer Garner, though she admittedly looks great
in red leather
or a business suit,
simply isn’t an action flick chick if the box office take on ‘Elektra’ is any indication. Jermey Piven was a riot in ‘PCU’ and plays a spectacularly squirrelly fellow in ‘Entourage’, but as a US diplomat surrounded by armed men and Saudi royalty in a war-torn territory, we’re waiting for a joke that never comes, aside from the inherent incongruency of Piven in such a role. The cast isn’t incompetent, it just doesn’t fit the film.
That aside, the sparse story of US forces in a scenario of skepticism eventually earning the trust of the royal family amidst tragedy has been done to death. Yes, there will be the requisite excess of explosions and exaggerations of news footage with which we’ve been bombarded since 9/11 became marketable . . . Yes, there will be the small flares of tension due to cultural misunderstanding and misinterpretation . . . And yes, there will be the customary child’s life in danger, the pseudo-shocking allusions of abuse, the obligatory bond that develops between child and US representative, as well as the development of a relationship between the loving father and the US forces present to help . . . and yes, you’ll love this film . . . IF you’re into exploitative farcical fabrication.
Technorati Tags: The Kingdom, 9/11, war movie, middle east, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jeremy Piven, cash cow, Entourage, PCU, Ray, Elektra, Alias
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Thanks for the link. I’m glad you enjoyed the post!