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Three Kings
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Three Kings (1999)

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User Rating: 7.3/10 (53,333 votes)
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Overview

Director:
David O. Russell
Writers (WGA):
John Ridley (story)
David O. Russell (screenplay)
Release Date:
1 October 1999 (USA) more view trailer
Tagline:
In a war without heroes they are kings more
Plot:
In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, 4 soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
5 wins & 13 nominations more
User Comments:
overlooked gem shows what a modern war really is more
US TV Schedule:
Thur. May 224:00 PMMAX   

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)
George Clooney ... Archie Gates

Mark Wahlberg ... Troy Barlow
Ice Cube ... Chief Elgin

Spike Jonze ... Conrad Vig

Cliff Curtis ... Amir Abdulah

Nora Dunn ... Adriana Cruz

Jamie Kennedy ... Walter Wogaman

Saïd Taghmaoui ... Captain Said (as Said Taghmaoui)
Mykelti Williamson ... Colonel Horn

Holt McCallany ... Captain Van Meter

Judy Greer ... Cathy Daitch
Christopher Lohr ... Teebaux
Jon Sklaroff ... Paco

Liz Stauber ... Debbie Barlow, Troy's Wife
Marsha Horan ... Amir's Wife
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Spoils of War (USA) (original script title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for graphic war violence, language and some sexuality.
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA | Australia
Language:
English | Arabic
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Arizona, USA more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 8% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Anthony Wiethoff was originally cast for the part of Cut Troy's Cuff Soldier but left the set due to disagreements with director David O. Russell's scenes of torture of US soldiers. more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When showing Troy's day job as a photocopier machine maintenance man, his shirt is already stained with black ink before he opens the toner box. Presumably, this was from a previous copier and he was unable to change shirts. more
Quotes:
Sgt. Troy Barlow: [Upon learning Said's wife is a double amputee] That's horrible
Capt. Said: Oh my friend... I haven't even told you the worst part yet. My son, he is only one... he is sleeping when the bombs drop ceiling caves in on him
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Mercedes Benz more

FAQ

Did George Clooney really hit David O. Russel on set?
more
58 out of 74 people found the following comment useful:-
overlooked gem shows what a modern war really is, 29 March 2000
9/10
Author: Rick-34 (rick_desper@yahoo.com) from United States

It's hard to really adequately describe this movie. Let me try.

For starters, in spite of the advertisements, it's not merely a remake of "Kelly's Heroes". Yes, we are in a postwar situation, where a bunch of Americans are trying to "recover" gold stolen by the enemy, but that's the end of the similarities.

"Three Kings" does an excellent job of showing just how gonzo modern warfare has become. You've got unemployed reservists going to the Middle East for kicks fighting Saddam, who uses gas attacks, electric shock torture and other atrocities to fight the rebels. Thrown in the mix are a U.S.-educated Iraqi whose businesses were destroyed by the Americans, a bunch of rebels and refugees living in bunkers, a CNN-type correspondent facing the threat of younger reporters, and Mark Wahlberg's character finding a cell phone in the Iraqi bunker and using it to call his wife in the U.S.

The movie is extremely funny at times, graphically violent at times, but always on target. It provides a lot of insight into how non-Americans view the U.S. I cannot think of another major movie which showed people in a third-world country as modern people without patronizing. Even the soldiers shooting at our heros, gassing the refugees, and torturing Mark Wahlberg's character are shown as human beings.

Somehow this movie got lost last year amongst all the hype for "American Beauty". "Three Kings" looks to have much more staying power. George Clooney continues to shine in yet another under-appreciated performance. For somebody with a Hollywood legacy, he really seems to have pushed some of the wrong buttons in Hollywood. I cannot think of any other explanation for why he has yet to achieve the acclaim his performances deserve.

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Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Three Kings (1999)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anybody know what one brick of gold was worth back then? franzenfolk
how did all that merchandise get to the desert? h1cheng
Judy Greer / George Clooney love scene matjambash
Should Be Right Up There with Fight Club TKgamer5000
Bush told the Iraqis to rise up? spaced_out49
The Iraqis didn't deserve any gold... mikeyg24
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