THE image of American military forces as glorious Gulf War liberators of Kuwait from Iraqi invaders comes under anything but friendly fire in George Cloo-ney's latest shot at movie stardom.
Three Kings (15) features the former ER heart-throb as Archie Gates, a hard-bitten and cynical major who leads a handful of troops in their own desert campaign to liberate millions of dollars worth of gold.
Among Gates's acc-omplices on what is essentially a heist, are former pop star Mark Wahlberg as Troy Barlow and Ice Cube, as Chief.
An early barrage of four-letter words and rock music eventually make way for an absorbing tale of greed and moral dile-mmas as it becomes evident that all that glistens is not gold.
The conspirators' relatively straightforward plan to grab the bullion and run is bedevilled by a minefield of complications.
The plight of Iraqi opponents of Saddam they encounter along the way pricks what reserves of conscience they have left in their armoury.
There is also action aplenty as the prevailing air of the end of hostilities is disregarded in armed confrontations between Clooney's gang and their Iraqi pursuers.
Leaving aside the personal avarice of soldiers, Three Kings really directs its ammunition at a bigger target. It snipes at the US's encouragement of Iraqi rebels to attempt to overthrow Saddam while doing nothing to assist them after helping Kuwait.
No wonder the film has stirred up its own desert storm in the States. Three Kings runs at UCI Dudley from March 3.
Review by PETE McMILLAN
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