In a way, Three Kings is more of a cowboy movie than a war movie. Basically, we have four soldiers, led by an experienced special forces Major (George Clooney), who venture off to get some $23,000,000 in gold stolen by the Iraqi forces from the Kuwaiti Sheiks. Their plans are thwarted, not by resistance from the Iraqi soldiers who more of less ignore them, but because the Iraqis are brutally torturing the starving civilians who were lured by George Bush’s request to form a resistance. The Major has a conscience after all and will not stand by and see these people slaughtered for heeding the President’s call.

At this point, our four soldiers of fortune out only for themselves become gunslingers who are protecting the townspeople (the Iraqi resistance civilians) from the rustlers (the remnants of Saddam’s Republican Guard). Their goal is to aid the safe passage of the civilians to Iran where they are confronted not only the by Iraqi Guards, but also by their very own, bureaucratic Yankee chain of command who are hell bent on enforcing the cease fire.

A unique element that stands out in this story is the role of television news reporters. They add to the difficulties and ultimately to the justice achieved in the film. These reporters are not there to do the bidding of a policy machine as in our major world wars. They cravenly seek the inside scoop and lead a sub battle with their military handlers common enough in our culture, but elevated in import because the center stage is war and human liberty rather than the President’s zipper or the dating of a princess.

In fact, the tension between enemies and allies unlocks a central theme of this fine film: there is no escaping the absurd impact of our human foibles even in endeavors as serious as war and its reporting. Yet, somehow through it all, we manage to do good if we are good at heart. This is not exactly the basis for coherent diplomatic or military policy, but the stuff of evocative cinematic story telling.

Actually, the worst of the bad guys are never on screen except by name or on large posters. Saddam Hussein, whose policies have enslaved his people and whose dogmatic uniformed thugs implement a reign of terror, certainly deserves enmity. Also, George Bush is named often as the source for authority and the rallying call for the Iraqi people to resist. Unfortunately, the cost for heeding President Bush’s request is death and destruction because he has ended the war without vanquishing Saddam and achieving a real victory. Those who resisted are now fodder.

Rallying calls long on jingoism have probably always fueled our zeal for combat, no matter how justified or important in the long run the victory may prove. These emotionally appealing slogans and posters often mask the real confusion and horror behind war.

Although marketed as an action piece with star power and glib one-liners, this film is really character driven with wonderful acting. We loved George Clooney as Special Forces Major Archie Gates. His best moments on the small and now the large screen are in roles where he takes a seemingly immoral, or at least iconoclastic position, which turns out to be the basis for the right action. His reluctant heart really shines through in this role as he uses guile and smarts to achieve his objectives.

Mark Wahlberg plays Troy Barlow, a non-commissioned officer who has never seen combat before this incursion. Troy has recently sired a child whom he has not yet seen. In the opening scene, he shoots an Iraqi amidst considerable confusion about whether the enemy soldier is threatening or surrendering. Troy’s later capture and torture offers some of the most ironic and best-acted sequences we have ever seen him in. At one point, he sifts through a pile of stolen cell phones, calls his wife in America, and tells her to call in his coordinates to the Desert command center that did not even know about the trouble. His torture by Captain Said played by Said Taghmaoui reveals misinformation that fuels prejudice and hatred. Still, these two men caught on the opposite sides of politics and war find a resolution that surprised and delighted us with its compassion.

One of the contrasts in the movie arises between the mystical, "Jesus Fire Ring" Pentecostal zeal of Chief Elgin, evocatively portrayed by Ice Cube, and red neck ignoramus Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze). Vig’s frankness and naiveté provide some of the more telling ironies.

Nora Dun plays Adriana Cruz, a principled, aggressive TV news reporter who is diverted by Major Archie Gates away from his foray for the gold. She pursues her story though, and her coverage of the final moments proves momentous.

We recommend this movie for many reasons, not the least of which is its entertaining and fresh perspective on all of this complexity.