Absolutely entertaining from start to finish.

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2009)

John Huston's impeccable buddy film, one of the great lost classics in American cinema, is more than just a great buddy film but also a mediation on the British place in India as well as the consequences of power and riches. Sean Connery and Michael Caine are perfectly cast as the gruff, fearless Daniel Dravot and the sneaky and thoughtful Peachy Carnehan, respectively. These are two of the finest actors based on their own credentials, but here they put all that aside and give us two characters that have been through a lot together and are willing to put it on the line in order to find their dream: head for the mountains of Kafiristan and make themselves kings of the country.
As the adventure starts out, we see the two friends meeting up with the famous British writer Rudyard Kipling (Christoper Plummer) who seems to have some important words for these two. They set out and face many obstacles and when they arrive they put their plan into action. I could go on as to what they do or what the outcome is, but that would spoil the outright fun of this wonderful tale of high-risk, action and adventure. As mentioned before, Connery and Caine are perfect in each of their roles, balancing each other and giving us a clear portrait of the British mindset at the height of their power. Huston directs with bold and outrageous shots of mountains, crowded marketplaces and vast kingdoms. In many ways, this reminded me of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, perhaps Huston's masterpiece. Just like that tale of greed for gold in the mountains of Mexico, this is a cautionary tale of greed in the mountains of Afghanistan. I encourage anyone interested to see this film; as unappreciated as it is it is just as enjoyable.