I guess if you were a politically savvy person, "Three Kings" might have a lot of problems. Then again, it might be right on the money. I don't know. Middle East politics mean absolutely nothing to me. Really, I could care less. (Yes, I know I should care more). And this film is so jumbled when it comes to keeping you in the know on what is what, it's hard to really understand all that is going on.

Perhaps what makes some wars so "enthralling" is that it is easy to tell the sides. The American Civil War was about black and white. WWII: The German Swastika vs. the American Flag. These are symbols and sides which are easy to understand. Telling the difference between an Iraqi, an Iranian and a Kuwaiti... Well, this was just hard for me to do. Never mind their political ideology, geography or religion.

When it comes to "Three Kings," however, all of this is a moot point. Fact is, it's just a great film. Mainly, because it's quartet of principles do such a kick ass job of making the film a non-stop thrill ride. I am a huge Mark Wahlberg fan (as an actor). I will fight to the death my opinion that he is one of the best (and most underrated) actors in America today. He rock here. Again cast into a role that allows him to explore the duplicity of human nature, Wahlberg weaves a character spun of silk and denim. His Troy Barlow is both father/husband and soldier. He proves himself an action star of the highest caliber while other scenes offer him an opportunity to prove his acting chops. His interrogation scene, at the hands of his enemies and under supreme duress, is one of the finest scenes of it's type to be found on film. Wahlberg rocks the house. Likewise, Ice Cube does not disappoint. It is no surprise, in a way, that many of our best acting talent today began as musical performers. Able to excite and captivate a stadium of admirers, Wahlberg and Cube seem at ease in front of the camera and provide us ample entertainment in this more intimate medium as well. The scene between Cube and Spike Jonze, at the zenith of their screen time together, is wonderful. Sure, nobody is breaking new ground here. Goddamn it, we're not asking them to. What we do get is one of the most sweet and heartfelt war films ever to grace the screen. Wahlberg is responsible for that. And Cube is as well. And some of their best moments come when they interact with each other, and with Jonze.

Jonze, meanwhile, is a revelation too. Best known as a music video director (his feature film debut "Being John Malkovich" is out this fall), Jonze proves he is a capable actor as well. His undereducated redneck undergoes a remarkable transformation in the film. This is a cast of characters, along with George Clooney's Archie Gates, in a series of action moments couple with drama and comedy that could be delivered ham-handed and contrived in less capable hands. The quartet here proves themselves one of the most memorable in recent "buddy" flicks. We like everyone, we respect the characters, we are desperate to see them succeed. And the films script, by Director David O. Russell (working off of a story by John Ridley), gives them ample opportunity to prove themselves in several arenas. Action oriented, dramatic, and comedic scenes flow together with thick resonance like so much oil from a wildcat rig.

Russell, meanwhile, proves himself behind the camera too. Coming up from Indie filmmaking 101, Russell dives into this thrill ride of a Hollywood action film with aplomb. He not only provides us with tight combat scenes, rich character development and plot twists from hell, but he does so in a beautiful manner. His film, using a washed-out, heat-drenched look (manufactured by a lot of cross processing) to remind us of the desert setting, never ceases to be a joy visually.

"Three Kings" is the best war movie of this year. It may be the best war movie of the 90's. Even if it employs confusing political ideals and that tired old standard of getting refugees through a border crossing as a climax. "Three Kings" is capable of overcoming any of these obstacles. It's a joy to watch. And it has a beauty and a message to it, about war and the Middle East and humanity and peace... that you just won't see anywhere else. This film puts a face on the Gulf War. And it isn't the face of General Schwartzkopf or George Bush. It's the face of average men and women, both of the Middle East and of America.

Note:

Also with Nora Dunn, Jamie Kennedy, Mykelti Williams.

Rejected titles included "Spoils of War."

Received the Boston Society of Film Critics Awards for Best Film and Best Director.

More of Lodger's reviews indexed alphabetically! Just click your favorite letter to go there.

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