THREE KINGS

US, 1999, 114 minutes, Colour.
George Clooney, Mark Wahlburg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, Cliff Curtis, Nora Dunn, Jamie Kennedy, Said Tahjmaoui, Mykelti Williamson, Holt Mc Callany, Judy Greer.
Directed by David O.Russell.

Three Kings is a tongue-in-cheek story of the first Gulf War, a view of American soldiers, their very American approach to life which contrasts with those in Kuwait and in Iraq, showing some of their mercenary approach, especially when they hear of gold that can be taken, but, ultimately, showing some innate humanity.

The film was written and directed by David O.Russell, who was to make a number of offbeat films including I Heart Huckabees and, particularly, The Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.

By this time, George Clooney had moved from television to becoming a star in film, with Mark Wahlberg more at the beginning of his stardom. Of interest, one of the other major American characters is played by writer Spike Jonze, best known for Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Her (as well is his strong association with the Jackass television program and movies and his character in Gloria).

In many ways the film is rather prophetic, being released four years before the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 – presaging some of the behaviour of the American troops, of locals, of insurgents as well as of victims and refugees.

The film starts with some humour – and that continues throughout the film especially with authority figures, but becomes more serious with the refugees and the humanitarian demands.

1. A film of the 1990s? Looking back at the Gulf War, the seven years perspective on 1991?

2. The film seen in the light of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the occupation of Iraq, American military over the years in that country?

3. 1990, Kuwait, Iraq, the invasion, the threats, President Bush, Saddam Hussein, the Kuwait military action, the ceasefire, the oil fields on fire, gold from Iraq?

4. Kuwait, Iraq, the locations, the desert? The bunkers? The military outposts? The songs and the musical score?

5. Refugees, pursued by Saddam Hussein and the Iraqis? The Iraqi military? Refugees?

6. The M*A*S*H tone, satiric, the change to the serious, the blend of both, the tone of the 1990s?

7. The work of the director, the screenplay, his career, his satiric edge over many years?

8. The American military, the introduction, the central characters and their explanations? Gates and his sexual encounter with the journalist?

9. The emphasis on the Gulf War being a media war, the importance of interviews, public relations, embedded journalists, their fears and fearlessness, the producers, camera operator, embedded with the troops? Filming the events? The observing – and later use for enquiries? And capturing the absurd?

10. Finding the map in the prisoner’s anus? The information, deciphering it? The decision to go to the gold? Getting rid of Adriana? The motivations, her being taken on “trip”? The irony of being captured, gunpoint, the soldier and his being stripped, her being recognised for her television work?

11. The expedition, the three men with Gates? Troy, his role in the army, going on leave, his wife at home, the baby, the phone call to her, the visualising of the glimpses of American life? Chief, his orderly work, his future? Conrad, eccentric, gung-ho, guns and shooting? Gates, his background, personality, not afraid of authority?

12. The expedition itself, driving, desert, the bunkers, the people inside, the troops, the refugees? The locations? The Iraqi military? The ceasefire? Those supporting the Americans, finding the gold, finding the fleet of cars and using them?

13. The confrontations with the Iraqis? The military leader and his shooting the wife of the refugee leader? His personality, his deal with Gates?

14. The battles, the Iraqis, Captain Said, his Americanisms in language, taking Troy, torturing him? The answers, the dialogue?

15. The attack of the helicopters, the shooting, the military in refugees being hit? Conrad, his injuries, his death?

16. Troy, the Americans, the information, the phone call from Troy’s wife, the officers and their reaction to Gates and his crew, their behaviour? The arrival, Gates and his plea for the refugees, finally persuading them? The refugees being saved?

17. The picture US military forces in the Middle East?

18. The aftermath, Troy and his carpet business, with his wife and children? Chief and his going to work with Gates? Gates as a military adviser – in Hollywood?

19. This film in retrospect, after the 2003 invasion of Iraq?