Thrilling action meets shocking essential history

Rating: 8/10 (21 January 2007)

There are so many great films out at this time of the Awards season that I find it difficult to decide which ones to watch and not watch. After noticing that DiCaprio (coming off the back of his fantastic turn in The Departed) was starring, and Zwick (the architect of recent glittering panoramas such as The Last Samurai) directing, I decided to immerse myself in the civil war of Sierra Leone. I was glad that I had as I was swept by the beauty of the country, the exotic jungles and vibrant deserts in the film.
DiCaprio has matured into a fine compelling actor especially since his striking role in the Aviator. In Diamond, his thick South-African accent was just another dimension to the rough, charming, roguish diamond smuggler that serves as our eclectic tour through the fiery Sierra Leone. His performance was charismatic, stunning and heartbreaking. Not to mention he carries the film almost entirely with wonderful help from Connelly and Hounsou. He is at times is dangerous, confident, but tender and I was captivated in his company in war-zone Sierra Leone. Some of the quiet moments in the film where his character is trying to justify his actions and make sense of the world current situation are without a doubt his truly splendid "money" moments in acting. His final scene in the film is so poignant and intense - the character truly alluring and remarkable.
Jennifer Connelly is once again a headstrong, confident and eloquent strong female character. Her ideals and determination force her to expose the corrupt trade of diamond mining and hence the blood yielded for each diamond earned. The chemistry between her and DiCaprio was edgy, clever and well grounded thanks to some tantalizing exchanges from the screenplay. I thought she has never looked more beautiful, articulate and admirable. I think I must have fell in love with her again.
Honsou exuded a quiet intensity throughout. He remains relatively silent for most of the film but when he speaks out under oppression or violence his intensity rages with ferociousness. His tender scenes with his son near the end of the film are also incredibly moving. Not to take anything away from DiCaprio (superbly) playing a South African but Hounson (an African-born) filled the role in every way.
The landscape was beautifully filmed, taking us over fleshy jungles, cocky and rollicking villages, unrepentant deserts and picturesque mountainsides. The Hollywood factor was felt in many scenes with the overpowering use of Newton Howard's score and the money on the formidable sets. But I must be gracious because the sets definitely deserve mention for there complexity, variety and character. Not least the action sequences were fast-paced, sharply photographed and edge-of-my seat suspense. Notably (and thankfully) was the absence of CG effects and explosions which made the experience of being in a war zone even more terrifying.
The commendable and guileless storytelling of the director and producers must also be mentioned. They have brought us a movie that highlights the effects of modern war and civil unrest in our world including the exploitation of people who cannot experience the free will and the quality of life that we take for granted. Myself being for the most part ignorant of these events in our world's history will definitely be learning more about the Africa's bloodshed history and their countries still in desperate need of aid.