Fundamentalist Islamic terrorists in Saudi Arabia target an American compound full of oil workers.
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The film highlights the dichotomy of a country that at its heart is fundamentalist, while to the outside world tries to portray itself as a beacon of hope for the Middle East. This underlying political subtext provides the film’s theme – an autocratic regime upheld by fundamentalist Wahibbist traditions can’t be seen by its best customer (the USA) to be soft on terrorism, but has to balance that by not being seen by its conservative population as a puppet to western forces.
Foxx is good as usual, and is ably supported by fellow Oscar-winner Cooper, as well as Garner and Batemen. However, the real star of this movie is Ali Suliman, who continues his good work after great stints in Paradise Now and the Syrian Bride. He epitomises a person caught between two worlds; someone helping people he doesn’t really like to solve a crime he abhors.
