David O. Russell makes his entry into the major studio big leagues with this electric war dramedy. The charged script, based on a fictional story by John Ridley, is a sly working that concerns four Gulf War soldiers who discover a map that potentially leads to an enormous stash of gold bullion. Russell gives his actors a chance to shine with roles that step outside of the usual cinematic cliches and enable them to create humanistic, believable characters, resulting in one of 1999’s most exciting, original and underrated motion pictures.
Directed by David O. Russell - Rated R
I have seen many war movies, but this one was very different, coming from the Persian Gulf war. It was funny, it was action-packed, and it was dramatic. It had all the elements of a five-star film, including great acting, and an all around spectacular story. It was a totally different movie, no doubt, and I was sad to see that it wasn't nominated for any awards, though it deserved them. "Three Kings is a movie fit for a king!" "Delightfully humerous and all around terrific!" "*****!"
