Three Kings (1999)

My Review

Director-screenwriter David O. Russell (“Flirting With Disaster” 1996) put together a lame black comedy called “Three Kings.” On the surface, it is a story of four American soldiers pulling off a gold heist during the 1991 uprisings in Iraq against Saddam Hussein following the end of the Gulf War. In reality, this film is a blatant political statement against President George H. W. Bush’s first Gulf War.

This film falls flat on its face with a narrow screenplay and parochial direction by Russell. The well-known cast members look foolish reciting Russell’s insular material, including George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Nora Dunn, Spike Jonze, Jamie Kennedy, Mykelti Williamson, Cliff Curtis, Judy Greer, Said Taghmaoui, Holt McCallany, Alia Shawkat, and Jim Gaffigan.

“Three Kings” was modestly successful in theatrical release for Village Roadshow Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures. It was filmed in Arizona and California.