Three Kings

Three Kings does just about everything right. That’s why it’s the best picture of the year so far.

The movie opens in March, 1991, right after Iraq’s Saddam Hussein agrees to the U.N. sanctioned cease-fire in the Persian Gulf War. American troops are preparing to withdraw. During the interrogation of an Iraqi prisoner, Sergeant Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) discovers a map on the captured soldier. The map details the location of $22 million of gold bullion stolen from Kuwait.

Barlow, Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin (Ice Cube), and Private Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze) are commandeered by Special Forces Captain Archie Gates (George Clooney) to find the bullion. They scheme to recover the gold from Saddam’s army. Not to give back to Kuwait, mind you, but to make themselves rich.

The four men drive to a village where the gold is hidden in an underground bunker. Iraqi soldiers leave the four soldiers alone as they prepare to haul it off. The enemy seems to be more concerned with exterminating rebel forces who want to overthrow Saddam. When the American soldiers intervene on behalf of a group of villagers being murdered by the Iraqis, their mission changes.

The rest of the movie follows the four men as they try to save the villagers while holding onto the gold. Will they pull it off? Will they all survive, pursued by the Republican Guard?

Three Kings employs the right balance of military action, high drama, and dark comedy to leave the viewer thoroughly absorbed and entertained. There’s a definite anti-war theme. The film also questions American military policy in the Persian Gulf War, contending that countless Iraqi civilians were left behind to be slaughtered by Saddam Hussein.

Be forewarned that there are scenes of violence and gore that give the film its deserved R rating. Wait for the end credits to find out how it all turns out.