In America it's bling-bling...here in Africa it's bling-BANG

Rating: 7/10 (5 August 2007)

A pervading message that comes across time and again in this film is that in Sierra Leone in 1999, life was very, very cheap. Another message it delivers is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH about diamonds: they are NOT rare.
The film follows Danny Archer (DiCaprio), smuggler and ex-soldier, as he meets Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a fisherman who has recently been separated from his family by the Sierra Leone rebels (The "RUF"). Together the two men embark on a dangerous trek to a diamond field where Vandy has buried the infamous "blood diamond" of the film's title. DiCaprio goes because of the diamond. He wants it. It's his ticket out of Africa. Vandy just wants his family back, but quickly realises he can't do it without Archer's help, leading to a very fragile friendship between the two that is played out with excellent talent by the two male leads.
Jennifer Connelly plays a journalist, Maddy Bowen, who has come to the thick of things because she's tired of writing stories about the "victims" and feels powerless. Along the way she tries to pump Archer for solid info about the diamond smuggling trade, but gets swept up in some feelings for Archer, and in wanting to help Solomon find his wife and kids.
Some Edward Zwick trademarks here: conflicted male protagonist "anti-hero", strong female lead (who is not just there to f*ck the male lead), fantastic action movie in historical setting. While not great, the film certainly had a reasonable share of standout moments: - One of the best intro scenes to a main character I've ever seen (to Leo's Archer)...perfectly sets up who Archer is, and what he's about...coolness factor is through the roof.

Djimon Hounsou's performance in the jail scene, where he strips naked. Great moment for this character...in fact his whole performance is flawless, he is the character in the film I most admired. The scene with his family, and the final moments with his brainwashed son are incredible and very moving.

Crossing the bridge - scene where Archer pretends to be Solomon's prisoner. In this scene, Solomon realises without doubt that Archer is one tough cookie...he takes out the 3 RUF members here in a merciless and controlled way that leaves no doubt in the mind that this guy is a soldier, and will kill without hesitation. Worth buying for this scene alone.

The "RUF"...the scenes where we witness them driving around listening to American "gangsta-rap" in overloaded 4x4 utes bristling with weaponry are truly frightening...and we can really get the sense of what it would be like to have to live in a country with these thugs. Also, the scenes where they are training and "indoctrinating" their child recruits are truly disturbing. The startlingly quick change in Freetown from a bustling market to a gun battle is also very effective and a truly exciting scene.

The love story - understated, realistic and free of a contrived sex scene, very reminiscent of the love story in Zwick's masterpiece, The Last Samurai.

In a nutshell this is a politically-motivated action film. The suspense is real, the characters are engaging, the setting and photography are superb, the score fits the movie well and I guess it's just an exciting movie to watch. I'd watch it again because yes, it is exciting, Africa's history fascinates and terrifies me, and there's enough depth to it to get more out of it with subsequent viewings.