Described by critics as something akin to CSI: Riyadh as an action movie, this film is definitely engaging, if a bit flawed.

Writing: The juxtaposition of the environment of Saudi Arabia is one of the only things that gives this plot a fresh spin. If not for the change in setting, and the politics that surrounds it, the plot is little more than a team of FBI agents out to catch the bad guy(s). That’s not entirely a criticism, because it’s kind of an interesting thing to see a standard plot thrown for a loop by nothing more than the setting. Character development is kind of on-the-nose, but it works. Ultimately, this movie is about performance and production more than it is about writing. I will compliment the movie for being probably the only movie in recent years having anything to do with international relations that doesn’t portray the USA as villains or soldiers out to slaughter innocent civilians. In fact, I’m adding on a point for that fact alone to make up for the one I’m subtracting for what I’ll rant about below.

Production: Almost everything about this production is fantastic. However, I stress the word “almost.” I’m going to come down extremely hard on one thing, and I’m going to be a little bit unfair to this individual film in doing so. What I’m going to slam is the cinematography. I’m sick to $#*@!%^ death of the handheld “docu” feel that has been the fad in recent years. Once Ridley Scott showed everyone how to do it with Black Hawk Down (and he did it with masterful precision), everyone and their uncle has decided that it is how they have to shoot their film. However, in perhaps a misguided effort to top the last guy who did it, they employ camera operators suffering from the final stages of Parkinsons disease. Seriously, could they just hold the camera even slightly steady for one billionth of a second? Pretty please. While this film isn’t nearly as bad as The Bourne Supremacy, it’s severely annoying and distracting. I subtracted at least a full point out of ten from my enjoyment of this film for this fact alone. Then again, for something to be worse at the hand held crap than The Bourne Supremacy, somebody would have to tie the camera to the back of a car and drag it around for the whole film. I don’t mind the occasional hand held sequence in films, if it doesn’t feel like the camera crew are 100% incompetent at their jobs, and if it isn’t constant from one scene to the next. This movie, sadly, breaks both of those rules. I think this movie gets worst cinematography of the year from me so far. I must pay special compliment to the opening title sequence, though. It’s a very well constructed history of the Saudi Arabian kingdom with their discovery of oil and relations with the United States that followed. It’s produced with slick style and actually tells the nearly 100 year historical story very well. Oh, and I definitely enjoyed all the location filming and well staged action sequences. Well, as best as I could see them through the horrible camera work, anyway.

Cast: You know, I would enjoy this movie for no other reason than to see Jennifer Garner back in action. Amusingly, she’s probably got more experience in action sequences than the rest of the cast combined. Her years on Alias were more than adequate preparation for her role in this movie. She gets a couple excellent action scenes to take part in, and more than holds her own. Jamie Foxx does an OK job with the overly-confident and somewhat one note character. Chris Cooper fits his role like a glove. But then again, he’s been in enough political/espionage thrillers to be able to do this stuff blindfolded. Interestingly, he doesn’t usually end up as part of the action material in most of said films, but he does get a pretty good amount of action material in this one. Jason Bateman does what he does best - witty sarcasm. He comes through with some nice scenes of dramatic performance, too. Supporting performances are good, including the likes of Richard Jenkins and Frances Fisher. Jeremy Piven is cast in a somewhat obvious move for a self-centered ambassador, doing his usual great job at riffing his way through dialog and situations. Definitely an amusing side character to the story.

Music: Danny Elfman’s score gets the job done pretty well. The guitar stuff is a bit thick for my liking, but his electronic overtones and action cues are quite good. The scoring of the opening title sequence is particularly well done.

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