Three Kings **** (1999, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze) – Classic Movie Review 4618

Writer-director David O Russell’s brilliant American satirical black comedy anti-war movie is based on a story by John Ridley.

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze star as adventurous American soldiers during the 1991 Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein, who set out to steal a huge cache of gold stolen from Kuwait and supposedly hidden somewhere near their desert base. They find a map to help them but, in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, they discover people who are desperate for their help.

Clooney and Wahlberg are on scaldingly great early career form and the edgy movie is exciting, dangerous and funny. Russell’s screenplay is as clever and adroit as his direction.

Russell teamed up with Wahlberg again for The Fighter (2010). His other films are Spanking the Monkey (1994), Flirting with Disaster (1996), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4618

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