Director: Edward Zwick
Writer: Charles Leavitt (Screenplay) Charles Leavitt, C Gaby Mitchell (Story)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Kagiso Kuypers, Arnold Vosloo, Anthony Coleman, Benu Mabhena, Michael Sheen
Plot: A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Brilliant Non-Stop Thriller
Story: Blood Diamond starts by giving us basic history of Sierra Leone where we meet Solomon Vandy (Hounsou) who looks after his family including giving his son Dia (Kuypers) a chance at an education, things take a turn for the worse when his village comes under attack by the revolution driven army where he is taken from his family to work for them
We meet a smuggler Danny Archer (DiCaprio) who moves diamonds across the borders where he ends up finding himself in prison, while in prison he meets Solomon who has hidden a diamond that could be worth a fortune. Danny runs into American journalist Maddy Brown (Connelly) who tries to show him the threat coming.
With the country falling apart with a civil war we are left to watch these three unlikely friends work together for their own personal reasons.
Blood Diamond shows us the horror of the civil wars happening in Africa and how the child soldier that the rebels use. We get three very strong characters all driven by separate motives including saving family, greed or exposure of the truth. I liked how the three clash to work together and all three do get what they deserve by the end of the film. I think this story shows how to make a full action adventure that has a serious story without mindless action and it all works and flows in a great pace.
Actor Review
Leonardo DiCaprio: Danny Archer is the smart talking, quick thinking Zimbabwean smuggler who sees Solomon as his chance for a big pay day to help him get out of the war torn country of Sierra Leone. He uses his connections to help Solomon get his family back in exchange he gets a diamond he had hidden. Leonardo gives us a great performance that really ends up being on of his most underrated.
Djimon Hounsou: Solomon Vandy is the working man in Sierra Leone whose family is ripped away from him by the rebels, he gets thrown into the slavery for the rebels but when he escapes he hides a diamond and reluctantly joins forces with Danny in a quest to save his family against impossible odds. Djimon does what hardly anyone has been able to do, outshine DiCaprio giving the performance of his career here.
Jennifer Connelly: Maddy Bowen is the American journalist who is looking for a big story, she sees Danny as the first steps to uncovering the story that could change the world’s view on the diamond trade. Jennifer gives us a good performance in the supporting role that is important to the final story.
Support Cast: Blood Diamond has a supporting cast that includes the rebels who are training their child soldiers and causing chaos across the land, the military trying to keep everything calm and the people who are waiting for the diamonds so they can make money.
Director Review: Edward Zwick – Edward gives us a brilliant film that is a real edge of your seat film..
Adventure: Blood Diamond shows how these three characters need to get across the war torn country and the problems they faced.
Thriller: Blood Diamond keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Settings: Blood Diamond uses the settings to show just how dark the moments will be for the people trying to get across the country.
Special Effects: Blood Diamond keeps the special effects low but effective during the conflict scenes making everything looking realistic.
Suggestion: Blood Diamond is one that should have been watch by now. (Watch)
Best Part: Djimon Shines.
Worst Part: some people will find it too long.
Favourite Quote: Danny ‘In America, it’s bling bling. But out here it’s bling bang. ’
Believability: The blood diamond trade is real but the characters are fictional.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Nominated for 5 Oscars including best actor and supporting actor.
Box Office: $171 Million
Budget: $100 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 23 Minutes
Overall: Brilliant Thriller that is filled with heart stopping moments and dark secrets of the civil wars.
Rating
