Three Kings (1999)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

David O. Russell

Writers (WGA):

John Ridley (story)
David O. Russell (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | War

Tagline:

In a war without heroes they are kings

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.

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Kuwait | Iraq | Persian Gulf | Gulf War

Awards:

5 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

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
Alia Shawkat	...	Amir's Daughter
Jabir Algarawi	...	Hairdressing Twin #1
Ghanem Algarawi	...	Hairdressing Twin #2
Bonnie Afsary	...	Western Dressed Village Woman
Jacqueline Abi-Ad	...	Traditional Village Woman
Fadil Al-Badri	...	Deserter Leader
Al No'mani	...	Kaied
Sayed Badreya	...	Iraqi Tank Major
Magdi Rashwan	...	Iraqi Troop Carrier Major
Ali Afshar	...	Iraqi First Kill Soldier (as Alex Dodd)
Larry 'Tank' Jones	...	Berm Soldier / Truck Driver
Patrick O'Neal Jones	...	Berm Soldier
Shawn Pilot	...	Berm Soldier
Brett Bassett	...	Berm Soldier
Jim Gaffigan	...	Cuts Troy's Cuff Soldier
Al Whiting	...	Camp Soldier / Truck Driver
Brian Daniel Patterson	...	Camp Soldier / Truck Driver (as Brian Patterson)
Scott Dillon	...	Camp Soldier
Kwesi Okai Hazel	...	Camp Soldier
Joseph Romanov	...	Camp Soldier (as Joseph Richard Romanov)
Christopher B. Duncan	...	Camp Soldier (as Christopher Duncan)
Randy W. McCoy	...	Camp Soldier
Mark Rhodes	...	Camp Soldier
Scott Pearce	...	Camp Soldier
Gary Parker	...	Civil Affairs Company Clerk
Haidar Alatowa	...	Saudi Translator
Salah Salea	...	Iraqi Soldier with Map
Doug Jones	...	Dead Iraqi Soldier
Farinaz Farrokh	...	Iraqi Civilian Mother with Baby
Omar 'Freefly' Alhegelan	...	Lying Iraqi - Bunker #1
Hassan Allawati	...	Friendly Iraqi - Bunker #1
Sara Aziz	...	Pleading Civilian Woman
A. Halim Mostafa	...	Iraqi Civilian Man
Al Mustafa	...	Storeroom Captain - Bunker #2
Anthony Batarse	...	Iraqi Interrogation Sergeant
Mohamad Al-Jalahma	...	Iraqi Rifle Loader #1 - Bunker #2
Mohammed Sharafi	...	Iraqi Rifle Loader #2 - Bunker #2
Hillel Michael Shamam	...	Storeroom Guard - Bunker #2
Joey Naber	...	Iraqi Radio Operator
Basim Ridha	...	Black Robe Leader
Peter Macdissi	...	Iraqi Republican Guard Lieutenant - Oasis Bunker
Tony Shawkat	...	Iraqi Republican Guard Sergeant - Oasis Bunker
Joseph Abi-Ad	...	Iraqi Republican Guard Sergeant - Oasis Bunker
Fahd Al-Ujaimy	...	Troy's Interrogation Guard - Oasis Bunker
Derick Qaqish	...	Troy's Interrogation Guard - Oasis Bunker
Hassan Bach-Agha	...	Troy's Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Fadi Sitto	...	Troy's Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Ali Alkindi	...	Deserter #1
Abdullah Al-Dawalem	...	Deserter #2
Rick Mendoza	...	Deserter #3
Jassim Al-Khazraji	...	Republican Guard on Roof - Oasis Bunker
Haider Alkindi	...	Fleeing Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Kalid Mustafa	...	Fleeing Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Ghazwyn Ramlawi	...	Fleeing Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Raad Thomasian	...	Fleeing Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Wessam Saleh	...	Fleeing Republican Guard - Oasis Bunker
Jay Giannone	...	Fleeing Republican Guard / Sniper - Oasis Bunker
Sam Hassan	...	Fleeing Republican Guard / Sniper - Oasis Bunker
Brian Bosworth	...	Action Star
Donte Delila	...	Iraqi Child
Dylan Brown	...	Iraqi Child
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini	...	(uncredited)
Pete Antico	...	Republican Guard / Shooter - Oasis Bunker (uncredited)
Anthony Azizi	...	Iraqi Rebel (uncredited)
Sean Michael Boozer	...	Black Robe Leader (uncredited)
Ben Bray	...	Soldier with Stack of Levi's (uncredited)
Brad Martin	...	Military Film Actor (uncredited)
Todd H. Mathus	...	Iraqi Republican Guard (uncredited)
Dennis Moore	...	Iraqi Rebel (uncredited)
Golan Ramras	...	Escaping Iraqi (uncredited)
Jose Rosete	...	Well Guard (uncredited)
Cheryl Rusa	...	Iraqi Villager (uncredited)
David O. Russell	...	Hollywood Action Star (uncredited)

Directed by
David O. Russell

Writing credits (WGA)
John Ridley		(story)
David O. Russell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Alan Glazer	....	associate producer (as Alan G. Glazer)
Gregory Goodman	....	executive producer
Paul Junger Witt	....	producer
Edward McDonnell	....	producer (as Edward L. McDonnell)
John Ridley	....	co-producer
Kim Roth	....	co-producer
Charles Roven	....	producer
Douglas Segal	....	co-producer
Kelley Smith-Wait	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Newton Thomas Sigel

Film Editing by
Robert K. Lambert

Casting by
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Catherine Hardwicke

Art Direction by
Jann K. Engel		(as Jann Engel)
Derek R. Hill		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena

Costume Design by
Kym Barrett

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup supervisor (as Allan Apone)
Jim Beinke	....	special makeup effects artist
Adam Brandy	....	makeup artist
Sandra A. Coley-Greene	....	hair stylist: second unit (as Sandra Coley Greene)
Clifton Dance	....	makeup artist: second unit (as Cliff Dance)
Michelle Garbin	....	makeup artist
Tony Gardner	....	special makeup effects artist
Barry R. Koper	....	makeup department head: second unit
Janet Laszlo Santa	....	makeup artist: second unit
Donald Mowat	....	makeup artist: Mr. Wahlberg
Karen Rich	....	hair stylist: second unit
Tina Sims	....	key hair stylist
Ron Snyder	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Robert Louis Stevenson)
Alicia M. Tripi	....	assistant hair stylist (as Alicia Tripi)
Christine M. Guararra	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Gregory Goodman	....	production manager
Ronald G. Smith	....	production manager
Bill Draper	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)
Héctor López	....	unit production manager: Mexico (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul F. Bernard	....	second assistant director
Dan Bradley	....	second unit director
John Downer	....	additional second second assistant director
Kent Genzlinger	....	second assistant director
Terry Ham	....	additional second second assistant director
Amy Hughes	....	second second assistant director
Lisa C. Satriano	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Lisa Satriano)
Rebecca Stefan	....	second assistant director: second unit
Julian Wall	....	first assistant director
Eric Yellin	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Terry Atchison	....	assistant property master
Adam L. Barker	....	plaster foreman
Chris Barnes	....	signwriter
Helen Britten	....	assistant decorator
Frank Calvert	....	assistant property master
Rick Chavez	....	assistant property master
Raymond Consing	....	illustrator
Jack Cornelius	....	swing gang
Tim Dingle	....	muralist
Matthew D. Egan	....	propmaker gang boss
Chuck Herrmann	....	assistant property master
Kearsley Higgins	....	art assistant
Christian Kastner	....	on-set dresser
Michael Kolb	....	paint foreman (as Mike Kolb)
Robert Lucas	....	lead man
Ron Mendell	....	set designer
David J. Negron Jr.	....	storyboard artist
Carla S. Nemec	....	art department coordinator
John M. Oswald	....	on-set dresser
Michael Papac	....	assistant property master (as Mike Papac)
Lars Petersen	....	construction coordinator (as Lars Peterson)
Lee Ross	....	stand-by scenic
Theodore Sharps	....	set designer
Kristen Spinning	....	painter
Keith Van Velson	....	property: second unit
Steven C. Voll	....	construction foreman (as Steve Voll)
Lynny Warner	....	swing gang (as Lynwood Warner)
Dean Wilson	....	assistant property master
Jim Zemansky	....	property master
Susan A. Burig	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Tom Frohling	....	set designer (uncredited)
Bill Garber	....	greensman (uncredited)
John B. Josselyn	....	graphic illustrator (uncredited)
Danielle Quilici	....	specialty props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Beher	....	foley editor
Brian Best	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Blufer	....	sound effects editor
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Broomberg)
Lance Brown	....	additional sound designer
Marc Deschaine	....	assistant adr editor
Marc Deschaine	....	assistant sound editor
Joe Dorn	....	supervising adr editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Bruce Fortune	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathan Klein	....	adr editor
Nicholas Vincent Korda	....	adr editor (as Nicholas V. Korda)
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Lance Laurienzo	....	first assistant sound editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
John Leveque	....	supervising sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Litt)
Trillby Kim Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voight)
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Anthony Milch	....	sound effects editor (as Anthony R. Milch)
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Allison Moore)
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Alenka Pavlin	....	cable person
Lisa Pinero	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Lisa Pinero-Amses)
Terry Rodman	....	sound effects editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Mike Shuman	....	assistant sound editor
Shawn Sykora	....	supervising foley editor
Edward Tise	....	production sound mixer
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Aaron D. Weisblatt	....	sound effects editor
Keenan Wyatt	....	boom operator
Richard E. Yawn	....	sound effects editor
Patrick Cicero	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	sound editorial support (uncredited)
Kate Jesse	....	boom operator: second unit (uncredited)
Marsha Sorce	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Kevin Webb	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Bresin	....	special effects
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator (as Marty Bresin)
Mike Brown	....	special effects (as Michael Brown)
Dan Edwards	....	special effects (as Danny J. Edwards)
Dale Ettema	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Werner Hahnlein	....	special effects
Chris Jones	....	special effects
G. Peter King	....	pyrotechnician
David A. Poole	....	special effects
Michael Roundy	....	special effects
Russell Shinkle	....	mechanical creature effects supervisor: Alterian
Robert Simokovic	....	special effects
Gary Snyder	....	special effects
Ron Thompson	....	special effects
Mike Van Arkel	....	special effects
Tim Walkey	....	special effects (as Timothy C. Walkey)
Richard Zarro	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Kelly Bechtle-Woods	....	digital artist: 3D animator
Tommy Dorsett	....	visual effects editor: POP Film
Joe Gareri	....	visual effects executive producer: POP Film
Ken Lam	....	digital compositor
Todd Sarsfield	....	scanning and recording operator
Carl Seibert	....	visual effects producer
David Sosalla	....	visual effects supervisor: POP Film
Brian Hanable	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)
Rafael Macho	....	title designer (uncredited)
Evan A. Nesbitt	....	visual effects unit director of photography (uncredited)
Siouxsie Stewart	....	CG coordinator: POP Film (uncredited)
Bob Wiatr	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Chino Binamo	....	stunts
Dan Bradley	....	stunt coordinator
Ben Bray	....	stunts
Jay Caputo	....	stunts
Max Daniels	....	stunts
Paul Eliopoulos	....	stunt performer
Uzi Gal	....	stunt performer
Richie Gaona	....	stunts
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts
Glenn Goldstein	....	stunts
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	....	stunts (as Rosine Ace Hatem)
Nick Hermz	....	stunts
Sam Maloof	....	stunts (as Sammy Maloof)
Brad Martin	....	stunts
Eddie Matthews	....	stunt double: Mark Walberg
Bobby Ore	....	stunts
Jane Oshita	....	stunt double: Alia Shawkat
Misty Rosas	....	stunts
George A. Sack Jr.	....	stunt driver
Ofer Samra	....	stunts
Christopher Sayor	....	stunts
Chris Sayour	....	stunts (as Christopher Sayour)
Brandon Sebek	....	stunts (as Brandon Sebeck)
Hashem Shaalan	....	stunts
Hash Shallan	....	stunts
Rudolf Weber	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leo Arroyo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cheryl Bermeo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Laura Dash	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Escobar	....	stunts (uncredited)
Michael Hilow	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Brad Martin	....	stunt double: George Clooney (uncredited)
Dennis Moore	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cheryl Rusa	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ray Siegle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mary Torres	....	stunts (uncredited)
T.J. White	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bonnin	....	crane operator: Akela crane
Erik L. Brown	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Erik Brown)
Stephen Carmona	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Steve Carmona)
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Keith Collea	....	video assist operator
Keith Collea	....	video playback operator
William Coss	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Bill Coss)
Don Duffield III	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Don Duffield)
Isaac Friedman	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Keith Gorman	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Anthony M. Gutierrez	....	additional first assistant camera: second unit (as Tony Gutierrez)
Terry Hall	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Danny Hernandez	....	electrician
Joel Jaspan	....	grip
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Jimmy Jensen)
Ian Kelly	....	video assist operator
Ian Kelly	....	video playback operator
Amy La Licata	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Thomas Lappin	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Tom Lappin)
Lynn Lockwood	....	camera operator: second unit
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	rigging grip
Susie Masterson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Larry McConkey	....	camera operator
David L. Merrill	....	key grip (as David Merrill)
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj	....	gaffer (as Tony Nakonechnyj)
Evan A. Nesbitt	....	additional cinematographer
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	director of photography: second unit (as Phil Pfeiffer)
Melissa Roth	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Thomas J. Ruffner	....	dolly grip (as Tommy Ruffner)
Gregory J. Schmidt	....	camera operator: second unit (as Greg Schmidt)
Geoff Shotz	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Keith L. Smith	....	camera operator: second unit (as Keith Smith)
John Stradling	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Bill Summers	....	best boy grip (as Billy Summers)
Joseph F. Valentine	....	camera operator: second unit (as Joe Valentine)
William D. Wynn	....	dolly grip (as Bill Wynn)
Ross Corsair	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
John Curry	....	set electrician (uncredited)
Julie Helton	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Mansur Johnson	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Wagganer	....	video assist operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tina Kerr	....	additional casting
Freddy Luis	....	casting associate
Alex Newman	....	casting assistant
Deedra Ricketts	....	additional casting
Tana Roller	....	extras casting assistant
Rachael Erwin	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Javier Arrieta	....	set costumer
Darryl M. Athons	....	key set costumer (as Darryl Athoms)
Dan Bronson	....	costume supervisor
Blanca Garcia	....	costumer
Gilbert S. Hernandez	....	set costumer (as Gil Hernandez)
Hector Morales	....	set costumer
Bob Morgan	....	costume supervisor
Elaine Ramires	....	key set costumer (as Elaine Ramirez)
Carlos Rosario	....	assistant costume designer
Lori Jean Sacks	....	set costumer (as Lori Sacks)
Peggy A. Schnitzer	....	key set costumer (as Peggy Schnitzer)
John M. 'Jack' Wright	....	costumer: second unit (as Jack Wright)

Editorial Department
Dexter N. Adriano	....	additional editor (as Dexter Adriano)
Mark Bourgeois	....	additional editor
Clark Campbell	....	first assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Pamela March	....	additional editor
Alan Z. McCurdy	....	first assistant editor
Ronald White	....	second assistant editor
Todd Busch	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Michael Farrow	....	music score mixer
Sonny Kompanek	....	conductor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Ralph Sall	....	music supervisor
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
David Torn	....	musician: textural solo contributions
Richard Wolf	....	composer: additional music
Zigmund Gron	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Garcia Jr.	....	driver: honeywagon
Lee Garibaldi	....	transportation captain
William Hogue	....	driver
Gene R. Johnson	....	transportation coordinator (as Gene Johnson)
Jerry Sidwell	....	driver
Brian Steagall	....	transportation captain
Tommy Tancharoen	....	transportation coordinator
David Wang	....	military vehicles
Tom Whelpey	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini	....	religious advisor: Iraq
Sermid Al'Serrif	....	technical advisor: Iraq
Kim Bauman	....	assistant: Mr. Roven
Robert Cable	....	second assistant accountant
Amy Minda Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Clooney (as Amy Cohen)
Herman Cohen	....	advisor
Mary Courtney	....	production associate
Julie Cummings	....	production assistant
Tamela D'Amico	....	assistant to producer
King Davis	....	technical advisor: military (as Col. King Davis)
Maria De La Torre	....	staff assistant (as Maria de la Torre)
Kristen Dolan	....	production secretary: Los Angeles
Michael S. Dunitz	....	assistant location manager (as Michael Dunitz)
Michael Feuerhelm	....	assistant: Mr. Witt
Kimberly Franklin	....	assistant: Mr. Roven (as Kim Franklin)
Tony Gardner	....	puppeteer
Nancy Haecker	....	assistant location manager
Larry Hand	....	production accountant
Jessica Hill	....	staff assistant
Peter Hollocker	....	production assistant
Catherine Hughes	....	staff assistant
Timalee Hustin	....	staff assistant
Merritt Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Russell
Shelley Kirkwood	....	publicist
Kate Kondell	....	advisor
Troy Kramer	....	craft service
Efrain Lomeli	....	location scout: Mexico
Abbie Ludwig	....	production coordinator: Mexico
Jennifer P. Luther	....	second assistant accountant
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor
Mike McNally	....	first aid
Bob Merrick	....	staff assistant
Gary Moglovkin	....	assistant accountant
Bruce Morin	....	craft service
Ronald G. Muhammad	....	assistant: Ice Cube
Niamh Murphy	....	textile artist
Jean Nakahara	....	staff assistant
Carla S. Nemec	....	staff assistant (as Carla Nemec)
Al No'mani	....	dialect coach: Iraq
Peter J. Novak	....	supervising location manager
Alex Orellanna	....	assistant: Mr. Roven
Jim Parker	....	technical advisor: military (as St. Major Jim Parker)
Mike Patlin	....	aerial coordinator
Monique Perez	....	production assistant
Chrissy Phelan	....	staff assistant
Nathan Polatin	....	assistant location manager
Bill Purple	....	production assistant (as William Purple)
Golan Ramras	....	production assistant
Angela Randazzo	....	lead payroll accountant
Nadia Randazzo Bombino	....	accounting clerk (as Nadia Randazzo)
Nadia Randazzo Bombino	....	payroll clerk (as Nadia Randazzo)
Shannon Ratcliffe	....	assistant: Mr. Clooney
John Rottger	....	technical advisor: military (as Lt. John Rottger)
Sam Sako	....	adr voice
Hillary Schwartz	....	staff assistant
Rick Shuster	....	helicopter pilot
Linda Stanley	....	teacher
Linda Stanley	....	welfare worker
Nicole Stavro	....	script supervisor: second unit (as Nicole Espinosa)
James Patrick Stoteraux	....	assistant: Mr. Russell
Lisa Swain	....	production secretary
Edith Thornton	....	assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Louis Timalot	....	chief pilot
Elpe Villard	....	production secretary
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Mr. Wahlberg (as Eric L. Weinstein)
David L. Wolfson	....	location manager (as David Wolfson)
Sheldon Zwerling	....	projectionist
Curtis DeMartini	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Julie Duvic	....	location manager (uncredited)
Lily Flaschner	....	location manager: Mexico (uncredited)
Jason Gondek	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Lora Hingst	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Samuel Hughes	....	grip second unit (uncredited)
Scott Stravitz	....	medic (uncredited)
Kurt Zelnak	....	travel coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Jim Parker	....	dedicatee (as Sergeant Major Jim Parker)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
• Village-A.M. Partnership (in association with)
• Coast Ridge
• Atlas Entertainment
• Junger Witt Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1999) (worldwide) (all media)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (video)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2000) (Finland) (theatrical) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2000) (Argentina) (video)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2003) (2004) (2006) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (2000) (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (video)
• Warner Home Vidéo (2000) (France) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Alterian (makeup and animatronic effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• SoundStorm  sound editing

Also Known As:

Spoils of War (USA) (original script title)

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

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Brazil:18 | Italy:VM18 (tv rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Iraq:(Banned) | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36912) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Barlow, Vig, and Elgin are wearing the patch of the U.S. Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations Command, and indeed, Barlow identifies himself as being a Civil Affairs Soldier. Barlow also makes reference to being a reservist, which rings true given that two of the three Army Civil Affairs groups are Reserve Component.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the milk truck enters the town and the Iraqi soldiers fire at it, as it turns, the shadow of the camera truck can be seen momentarily in the foreground

Quotes:

Cathy: Oh look at you Adriana, look at what's become of you.
Adriana Cruz: Yeah look at me, I've got my clothes on - I'm dressed!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in JCVD (2008)

Soundtrack:

In God's Country

overlooked gem shows what a modern war really is

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.