"Three Kings" is the first big budget feature film from director and screenwriter David O. Russell ("Flirting With Disaster"). With it, Russell has crafted a very complex, politically fierce, and meaningful story within one of the most action-packed films in years. He has taken an intriguing cast of George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, and out of each, has drawn one of their best performances to date. Each character is fully developed, provides intense and emotional dialogue, and adds an extra dimension to the story - and this is all done within an Action flick!

The story begins with the introduction of each of the main characters as they celebrate the United States' victory in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War. Troy Barlow, played by Mark Wahlberg ("Boogie Nights," "Fear"), is a dynamic, fun-loving soldier who has just become a father. Conrad Vig, played by Spike Jonze (director - "Being John Malkovich"), follows everything Barlow does - in fact, he wishes he were Barlow. Ice Cube ("Player's Club," "Dangerous Ground," "Friday") plays Chief Elgin, a religious man who views his trek to find gold as an act of Jesus. Captain Archie Gates, played by George Clooney ("Out of Sight," "Peacemaker," TV's "ER"), soon joins the celebration to help study a map that the men found (in an interesting location) that appears to lead the way to an enormous stash of gold in a bunker. This gold was stolen from Kuwait by Saddam, and now that the U.S. has won the war, the men decide it is rightfully theirs for the taking. The first ten minutes or so of the film seems to veer in all directions, but as soon as the map is discovered, the picture takes an immediate focus. Thus we embark on the journey of these FOUR men's search for the gold. Of course their escapade will bring them face to face with much more than they bargained for.

Although he was impressive in "Out of Sight," Clooney turns in his best performance to date as the captain who naturally leads the group in every compromising situation they encounter. Wahlberg adds to his repertoire of good performances (just this and "Boogie Nights") with his powerful turn as Sergeant Barlow. Ice Cube, like Clooney, puts forth his best performance to date. Spike Jonze and other supporting characters such as Nora Dunn as the TV reporter and Cliff Curtis as an Iraqi civilian who watches his wife get gunned down also give convincing performances.

This film is comparable to Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" for its abundance of graphic violence. Unlike so many violent action films of today, both "Three Kings" and "NBK" use the violence only as necessary within the plot, situations which arise quite frequently. It is also similar to other recent war movies such as "Saving Private Ryan." Though "Three Kings," being set in the recent Gulf War, is able to utilize new technology such as cell phones in ways with which other war films have not been able to experiment.

If this film is any indication of things to come from Russell, we have a lot to look forward to.

Rated R for graphic war violence, language, and some sexuality

I'd give this film 4.5/5, but I'll be kind and round up to 5/5.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday evening