REVIEW: ‘A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING’ Portrays Humanity as a Universal Language

Film and TV titles like Zero Dark Thirty, Homeland, 24 and many other titles delved into  sensitive terms like ‘terrorism’, ‘9/11’ or ‘Osama Bin Laden’, these titles have created stigma on its audience, particularly the feeling of what it’s like to live in war torn lands but Eggers’ novel, ‘A Hologram for the King’ begs to differ.

Based on the same title of the novel, it follows Alan Clay, an American salesman is sent to Saudi Arabia to close an IT deal with the king and also a desperate attempt in order to save his jeopardizing career.

Director Tom Tykwer reunites with Tom Hanks after Cloud Atlas. Tykwer’s picturesque aesthetic turns the dessert into a large canvass, its barren landscape manifests the feeling of isolated from the world and Hanks adapts to the director’s visuals by bringing nuanced troubled, anxious bits on his expressions as seen in dream-like sequences which makes it unsettling and you can really see his face expressing the agony.

That being said, Tom Hanks’s performance is easily the best thing in this film, it was just more than acting that he did but played Alan Clay as a whole human being, he cried, cracked jokes, made us laugh and there’s that awkwardness that connected the audience that it takes away the shyness and reluctant feeling.

Other cast members like Sarita Choudhury and Alexander Black were more than just supporting characters but individuals that they made Alan Clay grounded in a sense that they aid him and give perspective in his struggles by shedding some light that he needed. Alexander Black’s was charming as the driver, Yousef and Black’s humor doesn’t go with the slapstick expression but instead he uses it in situations where he needs composure. Sarita Choudhury manipulated both strength and sadness as Dr. Zahra, what makes her performance compelling is that she isn’t a love interest nor damsel in distress just simply she observes and Alan Clay’s life struggles and becomes a friend and that’s what makes her chemistry with Tom Hanks real, it’s the mutual understanding of trust.

The screenplay does a good job on depicting the different phases of the characters’ internal monologue surrounding the film’s existential theme however the pacing somewhat dragged on the middle act then jump into Alan and Zahra’s intimate subplot, it would’ve been better if they explored more on IT deal subplot and give more character development to the technicians that would’ve justify Alan’s persistence.

Despite the narrative’s shortcomings, A Hologram for the King proves that going beyond the norms on a story resonates an honest perspective that we live together in one world where everyone has their own ups and downs in life.

Special thanks to OctoArts Films International for the invite! A Hologram for the King is now showing in Cinemas.