Title/Year: Three Kings/1999
Director/Birth Country/Year Born: David O. Russell/US/1958
Budget: $48 Million (USD)
Gross: $60,652,036 (USD)
Synopsis: Tipped by a map found hidden on an Iraqi soldier, four soldiers are determined to steal a huge deposit of gold hidden in an desert bunker. On their way through the desert, they meet resistance from Saddam Hussein's army, and rise up as heroes to the refugees of the region.
Narrative and Visual Key Words: Gulf War, Saddam Husein,
gold, Iraqi, Anti war.
Camera/Lighting/Editing Technique: The entire movie had a bleached out, dusty feel. Many of the images were perfectly over exposed to portray a feeling of burning sunlight. The internal close ups of bullet wounds was a nice touch.
Political/Social Commentary: In regards to war, this film shows a fierce image of humanity. Soldiers abandoning their primary objectives to aid the helpless refugees of Iraq. The soldiers supplied enough anti war sentiment to have an ultra subjective feel in regards to the inability to help the citizens of Iraq after the war has ended.
Historical Relevance/Recognition: It is really more of an
alternate reality rather than a realistic portrayal of history. However
the time was well researched in regard to costuming, sets, and props.
Notable Collaboration: According to Clooney, he and Russell got into a physical altercation during the climax of the film. Clooney claims that Russell threw an extra to the ground.
Random Fact, Etc.: Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, who plays an Iraqi defector who sells Maj.
Gates stolen cars from Kuwait, Was in real life tortured and kicked in
the eye by Saddam Hussein's security forces, blinding him i that eye.
Like many advisers and extras, he was an actual refugee.
POV: There are a few points of view presented in this film. The main point of view is from Mark Wahlberg's character, Barlow's perspective. Barlow generally agrees with George Bush's policies, but is frustrated by the army's inability to help those in need. Another important point of view presented was the field reporter Adriana Cruz. Her desire to capture award winning footage, and desensitized view of violence show the selfishness of the media during war time.
Identity: The movie is clearly anti-war with it's every bullet counts attitude. The camera takes us inside a bullet wound to show the stomach cavity filling up with bile. George Clooney, the leader of the group, hammers home a point more than once. "No shooting" is the common verbage used befor entering any hairy situation.
Morality: The American soldiers all have a high sense of morality. They are reservists from humble backgrounds back home, who are "looking for action" until the real firefights begin. The soldiers had no intention of helping the Iraqi citizens with their revolt, until they see a mother get murdered in front of her family.
Memory: This film seems to remember Operation Desert storm the same way many Americans viewed the war: with a lot of confusion about the US foreign policy regarding a "free Iraq". The first dialogue in the film is Barlow asking a fellow soldier, "are we shooting"? The Americans and Iraqis have signed a cease fire treaty, yet the Iraqi people are still under the assumption that the Americans are there to help them.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Kings_%281999_film%29
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120188/
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19991004/REVIEWS/910040306/1023
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