Rent Three Kings (1999)

Clever Funny Action Thriller - Three Kings review by GI

Part comedy caper and part serious action thriller film that has a sharp script and manages to condemn America's involvement in the Middle East and the campaign to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi invaders as an ill thought out and disastrous policy. Set in 1991 at the end of Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait. Army Sergeant Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) and two of his mates find a map that identifies a hidden Iraqi bunker where stolen Kuwaiti gold bullion is hidden. When Major Archie Gates (George Clooney) hears about the map he takes them on a mission to steal the gold for themselves but their plans go awry when they become embroiled in Saddam's suppression of dissident civilians. Not only is this really entertaining, full of action, and littered with some really unique approaches to violence but it's also very funny and highlights the utter ridiculousness of the situation created by the Americans. It deals with the abandonment of the Iraqi people who were encouraged to rise up against Saddam Hussain but then unsupported by the allied forces and shows how the whole conflict is just a media war. So interwoven in this film is a human drama story that is quite moving and occasionally shocking. However the film is clever, engrossing and very, very good so if you've never seen this then it's a must see film.