David O. Russell
Three Kings

Set at the end of the Gulf War in 1991, Three Kings is a 1999 film that almost evokes nostalgia for a time when wars seemed to be able to end victoriously with quick interventions by "peace forces". The long-gone innocence of the '90s.

The story follows three American soldiers: Troy (Mark Wahlberg), Conrad (Spike Jonze), and Elgin (Ice Cube) who, during a proctological exploration, find Saddam Hussein's treasure map and decide to try to seize it with the help of Major Archie Gates (George Clooney). What starts as a heist set in a war zone - as the script was pitched to the studios - turns into an awakening: the chaos in Iraq is not just the backdrop of their adventure but a human tragedy they must face. Of course, in 1999, the devastating consequences of that intervention were still to come, making the film decidedly naïve.

The role of Archie marks the revelation of George Clooney, who perfects his trademark character here: the super-cool, somewhat asocial and borderline persona, brazen yet with his own moral code. Despite being the film's focal point, Clooney leaves room for the supporting actors: Wahlberg, before descending into a monotonous career of tough guys with hearts of gold, is convincing as the ambitious soldier, while Spike Jonze, better known as a director - now adrift - is Conrad, a racist and ignorant character but pathetic in his devotion to Troy. Even Ice Cube, as Elgin, received praise for his solid portrayal as a man of faith and action.

Directed by a young David O. Russell, from whom a noteworthy follow-up was expected in vain, the film was a success and stood out for its innovative techniques: desaturated photography, frantic pace with handheld camera, and the famous sequences where bullets tear through internal organs, a visual gimmick that set a standard. In short, intriguing visually, with an approach that would be imitated but not surpassed by many war films set in the same area.

Finally, the title Three Kings, fortunately not translated into Italian, adds an additional level of interpretation for the English-speaking audience, evoking the Three Wise Men, known as the Three Wise Kings. An ironic title, considering that initially, the protagonists are four, both deserters and rather criminal.