Is All This Really Happening?

Rating: 8/10 (30 August 2010)

Lately, every film I see is so full of violence and suffering. Here the catch is diamonds and their impact on the world. Leonardo de Caprio is a mercenary, working the two sides against the middle. During this film, his character reclaims his soul. The strong suit of the film is the portrayal of the Africans who are victimized by the unfeeling diamond cartel and their own military infrastructure. It shows the process by which boys are kidnapped and then made into mindless soldiers fighting for a cause they don't even understand. I wish there had been a better sub-current of humanity and a little more human connection. I ask if this is the way it is or is it the way it is on the worst of days? What is truly astonishing is how the principle characters manage for so long to not get hit by fire. At times it's a bit much. Still, it sends a clear message that most of us ought to be aware of.