Blood Diamond

Rating: 6/10 (3 February 2007)

Blood Diamond I like Leonardo DiCaprio, and I am happy he has done this movie. He gets into the skin of every character he plays, and I like that dedication of his. He has learned and is improving with every challenging performance.
Blood Diamond is a typical 70-80's American adventure movie. Such movies are nice to see after a long time, it reminded me of Indiana Jones series, a power packed adventure drama. Only addition this time is that the narrative has more violence in it.
Without mentioning the director  Edward Zwick in the beginning of my review, I would be doing disservice. Edward Zwick has punched in enough commercial delight with a human rights (that's what I heard on TV!?) message. Yes, he touches the fringes of critical issues that tingles the mind. The movie casually makes philosophical, political, economic and a few cynical statements especially against American life and thinking. But that does not stop the director to carve out his narrative out of the Hollywood style of story telling.
The setting is epic  in the backdrop of Sierra Leone diamond mines and rebel war lords who fight inhumanly for getting a few more diamonds. The story is about Djimon Hounson who finds and hides a big diamond; Leonardo in pursue of the diamond joins hand with Djimon  who now wants to go back to his land to find his son. Jennifer Connelly is a journalist (so typical!!) in search for an expose to illegal diamond trade, who develops a love bond with Leonardo and helps him at crucial juncture.
But let me tell you that the story is bit over-stretched, and linking all child soldiers to diamond trade is untrue. Nor the persistent violence of such a heavy shooting and killings on the streets exists amidst environment of normal life. But this is a commercial format  and I think such liberties are permissible.
The movie is well made  and scores high on every department of movie making techniques  cinematography, actions, sets, music and above all acting. Leonardo is great, Djimon is terrific and Jennifer is 'American'!! I think the credit of bringing out this story and screenplay should be given to Charles Leavitt, who successfully blends good story (like a typical epic action novel) in a commercial format. There are softer moments in the film, that dwells into and touches intense global issues  but I thought that it fell one or two notches short of hitting bulls eye.
If you like Leonardo, go and see the movie  you will love him. And even if you do not like Leonardo, but like good commercial movies go and see the movie, you will like it.
(6.5 Stars)