Review of Three Kings (1999) by Gregory G — 03 Jul 2010

David O. Russell's "Three Kings" is an irreverent political war farce in the vein of "M*A*S*H*" and the adventurous "Gunga Din". Set in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, it follows four American soldiers who venture on their own to steal Kuwaiti gold bullion from Saddam Hussein.

As the soldiers encounter the plight of Iraqis their perspective changes and they decide to help. This is one of the few American pictures to have an empathetic view of Arabs and their culture. The resolution is a little pat but this is ultimately a humane movie.

It has a mixture of tones and genres that is refreshingly unsettling and works as a biting political satire that is openly critical of an interventionist American foreign policy. Much of the movie's dark humor comes from an absurd juxtaposition of American consumerism in an underdeveloped Arab country.

"Three Kings" may be the most sophisticated war movie ever made in America. The visual style incorporated by Russell and cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel is experimental in technique. The gritty, bleached out compositions have the look of a Xerox.

In one instance, Russell takes the camera inside the human anatomy to show the damage a bullet can do resulting from a gunshot. George Clooney shows what a magnetic movie star he is and he gives a less mannered performance that conveys intelligence.

Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, Nora Dunn, and Cliff Curtis also star in an eclectic and exceptional cast. Written by Russell from a story by John Ridley.