In the Combat Zone

This article is written by Marylin Young for "Radical History Review" in winter of 2003. The article can easily be accessed from UIC workstation. Non-UIC workstations need some kind of authorization.
The article gives us an interesting look in the place when it quotes George Clooney's special forces friend says that he really didn't know what he did there (kuwait). The main idea is that americans have liberated Kuwait. This is the reason the friend of this soldier replies, "Do you want to occupy Iraq", and "do Vietnam all over again".

The vietnam syndrome (no clear victory) and the media image is a big part of this article. It quotes Rove for the War on Terror saying that hollywood should play a role in declaring that "The war is against terrorism, not Islam... a fight against evil than disagreement between nations". This meeting provides a background to the powerful influence of media on our minds. The article mentions that madia blunders were blamed for the loss of the vietnam war. This is why you see in the quotes above that the army doesn't want to repeat "vietnam again". The power of media is shown in the film when George Clooney and his band of soldiers make the reporter go in circles than tell they plan to steal kuwaiti gold. Of course, stealing would hurt the "liberator" image of the army. But they don't hesitate to use the reporter when they are saving those iraqi refugees and moving them across to Iran at the checkpoint against army orders. These soldiers used the media to their advantage as due to the reporter's reporting on them, these soldiers get off easy because of their "heroic actions" in saving Iraqi civilians from saddam's murderous army.

Review of Three Kings

"KPaul" is the user who wrote on the movie blog called Moov Goog. This blog was written on December 31, 2002.
The blogger speaks of how consumerism has affected our lives, which was demonstrated throughout the movie when the soldiers were surrounded by gold and other fine possessions. Also, how the soldiers seemed more concerned with the gold they found in Iraq that was stolen from Kuwait instead of their real purpose for fighting this war. KPaul states,

"While romping through Iraq after the gold, the heroes seem oblivious to the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people around them. The movie is also filled to the brim with reminders of how consumerism and materialism have affected all of our lives - how sometimes people think more about the objects and material things rather than human suffering and emotion."

In addition, the blogger speaks of how violence is not glorified in this film. This is rare because most war films send the opposite message.

I <3 Huckabees

David O. Russell is an American film director and screenwriter. He has written, produced, and directed many films such as Spanking the Monkey, Flirting with Disaster, and I Heart Huckabees. I Heart Huckabees, a comedy released in 2004, stars many famous actors including Jude Law and Dustin Hoffman. After seeing the same stranger three times in one day, Albert feels that these encounters are more than just a coincidence, so he hires a husband-and-wife team of existentialist detectives to help solve this strange situation that keeps Albert wondering all of the time. The couple insist on spying on his everyday life in order to help him with his issue. The couple share their views on life and the nature of the universie while working to solve Albert's situation. Although this film is a comedy, it also includes a serious tone. There are various messages about life that are communicated to the audience, which always keep all of our minds occupied throughout our daily lives.

A Selection of Exclusive Outtakes from an Interview with David Russell

The link above provides readers with an inside look into Russell's mind as a director. Gavin Smith, who is the editor of Film Comment, gives an in-depth interview with the director about two of his movies: Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees. In the interview, Russell goes on to explain the concept behind these two different movies, the meaning of each, how his personal life effected the making of them, and the marketing behind the movies. This was a really interesting article to read because you could really see where Russell got all his ideas and what kind of thinking process he must go through for each and every film he directs. Below are some interesting quotes from the article:

The most boring part of Three Kings to me is the heist and the
gold....I like to let the camera roll and not stop, and talk through lots of different takes. So the actors would forget I'm there....There was really no title I was happy with [talking about I Heart Huckabees]. I stuck with it because I like that it has a Heart in it.

I found this article very interesting so I think everyone should check it out!

More about Russell

In this link you will find info on the many works of the director of Three Kings, David O. Russell. To find out more about any one film, simply click on that film to learn more. Russell has directed, produced, executive produced, and done other things relating to film. As you can see this man is very experienced. Check it out why don't you.

JON BRION: 'I &heart; Huckabee's'

This article written by Jon Brion discusses the music used for the soundtrack of I Love Huckabees, directed by David Russell. In this article Brion talks about how much of an important role music plays in a film. Brion stated,

David and I had a conversation about how disgustingly gratuitous song placement in the movies has become, and how most soundtrack music doesn't have a sense of song to it.

Dustin Hoffman plays an "existential detective" who probes coincidences in his clients' lives and raves like an aging acidhead about how everything is connected to everything else.

Because, the movie had many tension points, Brion agreed with Russell on how he focused his music on the most emotional tension points.