The Kings of Baghdad

Author(s): Pat
Location: NY

"The Kings of Baghdad"

Directed by Terry George
Written by Stuart Beattie and Terry George
Produced by George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Kathleen Kennedy
Music by James Newton Howard

Main Cast
Reese Witherspoon (Cassie Andrews)
Ryan Gosling (Justin Macfarlane)
Michael Biehn (Hank Denoura)
Mickey Rourke (Wallace Denoura)
Alexander Siddiq (Sameer Walid)
Ali Suliman (Malik Walid)
Matthew Rhys (Dennis Grier)
Kyle Chandler (Randy Johnston)
Lance Reddick (Quincy Juni)

Tagline: "In a land of newfound freedom, enterprise is king"

Synopsis: In March 2003, the United States invaded Iraq and removed dictator Saddam Hussain from power. Four years later the only thing that has changed is the amount of Americans within the country. American citizens have overrun the country with commercialization and domestic businesses. Two brothers, Hank (Michael Biehn) and Wallace (Mickey Rourke), are owners of a multi-million dollar company that manufactures and sells car tires directly to the Iraqi people without employing any Iraqis. Cassie Andrews (Reese Witherspoon) hears of their company and decides she wants to make a documentary about the subject, so she flies to Baghdad to research the Denoura brothers. Immediately, she meets Justin Macfarlane (Ryan Gosling) an FBI agnt who’s assigned to watch over Cassie’s work and report if she finds anything damaging to his superiors. Cassie goes into the situation assuming the worst, but is surprised when she and Justin find that the brothers are using their earnings to finance residential construction, health care, safety, and other various aspects to helping Iraqi citizens. Their goal is to rebuild the Iraqi economy through outside donations. Her story becomes much more complex and heartfelt after this revelation, but the happiness doesn’t last long. Sameer (Alexander Siddiq) and Malik (Ali Suliman) are Iraqi brothers who want to start their own tire business but can’t because the Denoura brothers are too dominating. They conceive a plan to bomb their headquarters and factories to ensure the company cannot survive. They begin to threaten the company publicly and order Cassie to tell their side of the story as well. She fearfully complies, with the protection of Justin, and discovers that she sympathizes with both sides. Matters become even more complicated when Justin superiors (Kyle Chandler, Lance Reddick) get wind of the situation and urge Cassie to leave the country before she starts something bad. Cassie is conflicted between the brothers and the country and what is right. Her actions eventually cause violence and jealousy amongst families and Iraqis. “The Kings of Baghdad” is a story about searching for the right way out of a bad situation and the horrific results when that journey takes a wrong turn.

What the Press would say:
Terry George’s latest film, “The Kings of Baghdad”, is a story about the war in Iraq. But it is much more than the usual “America is screwing everything up” theme that is commonly found in movies and documentaries. George takes a new look at showing that it is not all of America making things worse in the country. The film is about two brothers who are trying to revamp the Iraqi economy with their tire conglomerate and their mission to help the Iraqi people. But there is a dark side to the film too. There are military officials wishing to end their careers and two Iraqi brothers who resort to violent methods to start their own business. Reese Witherspoon stars, in her most affecting role ever, as a documentarian who wishes to expose the brothers but quickly learns that they’re far from the villains that the government makes them out to be. Her offensive personality and full heart shine through every frame, especially during a scene where she tries to lead a group of Iraqi children from an imminent terror attack. Ryan Gosling serves as her sidekick who cannot help but dominate the situation. At first glance, his role would be supporting, but becomes quickly apparent that film isn’t just a Witherspoon show. While appearing 20 minutes in, Gosling quickly takes hold and guides Witherspoon through the hardships of Baghdad. Alexander Siddiq steals scenes as a Baghdad businessman who becomes desperate for money that he turns to terrorism. His controlling anger seeths into every action and makes him a truly sympathetic, yet missinformed, bad guy. ‘80s action stars Mickey Rourke and Michael Biehn take on the title characters in such a unique way that it’s hard to decide if you like them or not. Their intentions are good and they want to help, but the audience can’t help but hate their personalities. Rourke plays one brother who yells and screams whenever he gets angry and appears to have no peaceful ground. Biehn, on the other hand, is calm and collected but ultimately an evil person with a tendency to insult everyone he meets, even his own brother. But it is in these two men where you get the message of the film, which is the idea that anger and hatred sometimes indicate helpfulness and humanitarianism.

FYC
Best Picture
Best Director-Terry George
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor-Ryan Gosling
Best Actress-Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor-Michael Biehn
Best Supporting Actor-Mickey Rourke
Best Supporting Actor-Alexander Siddiq