Blood Diamond
Set during Sierra Leone's bloody civil war in 1999, this thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny Archer, a smuggler who sells "blood" diamonds used to finance terrorists. When Archer meets a local fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) whose son has been forced into a child army, the two men's lives become intertwined, and they set off on an adventure that leads them through the world's major diamond centers. DiCaprio and Hounsou earned Oscar nods for their performances.
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» Reviewed by 12 people
I am tired of movies that are made to right some injustice in the world. "The Constant Gardner" is one of those movies and this one the same. Perhaps it's a new category of movie but it doesn't move me, perhaps because society has turned numb to things like this ("Will the people of America do something when they read your article"? "No" replied Mattie Bowden). This is definitely a serious topic, conflict diamonds, but social causes sometimes don't translate well into movies they need to move me. They need to be a movie as well as a moral stance. This did nothing on the former to help the cause of the later. While I *love* Jennifer Connelly and want to pry her away from her husband (I'll wait for you!), I can't give this movie more than three stars. She is a pleasure to see on the screen but it's Leo's acting (once again) and the message of this movie that saves it from two stars.- Craiglet
Very interesting movie. It definitely could have used some editing though. And maybe Im too critical but I found myself thinking How did he get that diamond through customs????
- AH 321622
Amazing Story. It was an absolutly riveting movie. I highly recommend it. It was quite violent, but not unnecessarily. I hate gore and violence for no sake other than shock value. This was done very tastefully, yet maintained it's incredible emotion.
- 427
Blood Diamond consists of a mediocre plot set against an absolutely fantastic background of Sierra Leone during civil war. It's those moments in the film where it deviates slightly from its pursuit of the diamond and instead meditates on the conditions of the people there caused by the never ending pursuit of other diamonds. DiCaprio just seems to get better and better at what he does having starred in both this and the Departed last year; Djimon Hounsou is just as fantastic as ever. It's these actors and the setting that allow us to easily accept some of the absurd and unlikely occurrences; this is a very good film that at the least gets us to think about where we put our money.
- Mastermindobu
DiCaprio plays a diamond smuggler who tries to do business amongst civil war in Sierra Leone. This was nominated for 5 Academy Awards. Among the nominated were DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, who plays a local who gets caught up in the turmoil. Great performances and DiCaprio's accent grows on you. "In America, it's bling bling. But out here it's bling bang."
- Cleve1212
Blood Diamond has a sense of racial politics and greed around it, but these aspects are never in your face and only serves to provide a rich backdrop of color to a horrifying situation. Theres even a bit of subtle romance, involving Jennifer Connelly, thrown in. But unlike so many other movies that do this merely to have a love interest, Blood Diamond uses this device to give the film a bit of a conscience; a role that is sorely needed lest were forced assume mankind is destined to destroy itself. But dont get me wrong, this isnt a message movie like other award winners *ahem* Babel *ahem*; its just a very, very good movie with amazing acting. I was particularly awed by Djimon Hounsou, the African fisherman caught up in events way above his head. Ive seen him before but he completely blew me away in this flick. DiCaprio was also very good here as a diamond smuggler from a nearby African country. His attempt an an African accent occasionally pulled me from the moment but otherwise, his acting was impressive. I also really liked the ending.
- Creeper
I know I'm not going to tell you anything different that all the other reveiwers have already written, but I cannot sit back and say nothing about one of the best movies I have ever seen. The movie is definetly a message film, that said, the writing, acting, and landscape is GREAT. Leo and Djimon give their best performances to date. IT's gut-wreching, disturbing, down right horrific at times, but the message is clear. The moral conflict of the DiCaprio character makes you love him and hate him throughout this film. All I can say is if you want to see a movie that teaches, entertains, and grabs hold of you throughout... Blood Diamond is WELL WORTH A WATCH!
- frgodbeyjr
I loved the message of this movie, bringing a very real problem to the forefront to a country (America) that ignored it for far too long. But did they have to wrap it around a razor thin plot and cliched story? I had a difficult time getting into the film because I predicted every move before it happened. SPOILER SPACE Djimon Hounsou plays a fisherman stolen from his destroyed village by a "rebel group" to mine for diamonds. The same rebel group chases off his family and then kidnaps his son to join them. Djimon finds an enormous robin's egg sized diamond, which he hides. While he's hiding it, the rebel group leader discovers and tries to make him give it up. Djimon manages to escape when the rebels are attacked by the army. Here is where the story went off the track for me. The rebel leader is responsible for so much death and murder, Hounsou's character has a chance to kill him and he doesn't. Hounsou ends up in jail, where he runs into the leader who screams at him to give it up. The leader is overheard by Leonardo Dicaprio's heartless diamond smuggler. As the movie unfolds, DiCaprio uses Djimon to get to the gigantic diamond, using his family and then his kidnapped son as bait. They end up using a journalist credit to get to both the diamond and the son, using Jennifer Connoley's credit. The problem is, not counting the diamond mining and rebels, the movie was incredibly typical. It went exactly as you would expect, DiCaprio and Hounsou become friends, Hounsou has to confront his son and ends up killing the leader, the man behind so much of his pain. Very disappointing story.
- psq 667824
Long sleeve or short sleeve? Brilliantly depicted, the unknown story of conflict diamonds and child soliders in Africa. Eye opening for those who are oblivious to those how those two issues are connected. Don't bother if you're looking for Connelly to do anything provactive or sensual. Its not here. An awesome movie regardless.
- Walter Dalton
I really did enjoy this film, even though it wasn't quite as stellar as some friends have said. Leo is fantastic, and he's really proved himself as one of the absolute best in the business. I though it was a very nice change of pace seeing Djimon as a more vulnerable character. Usually he's used as an aggressive figure. Connelly's character I found to be lacking the depth needed to match up with the other two leads. She was fine, but unlike the other two I feel like it wasn't a role that was challenging to her. The story was certainly one that needed to be told. The issues of diamonds and their origins has largely been ignored for generations, and I'm particularly pleased to see some negativity surrounding this otherwise worthless rock.
- Photo Heathen
Ten stars just for the story it tells, reminding us all how interconnected we are in the world, how little we value human life and ignore human suffering just for some sparkling trinkets- diamonds in this case. But what a gory mess this movie was! While I understand it, I just could not handle all the violence, the blood-letting and cruelty. I fast forwarded through so many shooting scenes. So sad to know that so many in Africa, in the world, have to try and live their lives under such horrible life-threatening conditions. The sub-plot of how children are indoctrinated into soldiers was also so very sad- and yet it set up my absolute favorite scene in the move. I watched that "I am your father" scene over and over. Lots to love about this movie - the relationship between DiCaprio's and Hounsou's characters, the father/son and whole family love, some of the wonderful landscape, and the eventual redemption of spirit that takes place. Oh, and also that at least one family was able to escape the blood bath was certainly worth celebrating. Still, this movie made me so sad. It is an important movie, but if you have trouble with violence, brace yourselves.
- VJ Purplequeen
This movie is all over the place... a rare pink diamond is unearthed and a poor fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) wants to use the diamond to reunite his family. He is helped by a smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio) who has his own plans for the diamond. There are other plots that move and twist throughout the movie making this a fairly complex story. I have to admit that I liked it, but wasn't really overly impressed. Jennifer Connelly as the eager photojournalist/love interest was not convincing... very little chemistry with DiCaprio. Poor casting choice there in my opinion. Still, the story did shed some light on the diamond trade and makes good use of the vast socio-economic differences among the various people who take control of the diamond. A good film that requires an emotional investment, but very little payout in the end. 3 stars.
- Freakin Meow