A Terrific Movie, Though Let Down Slightly By Its Ending

Rating: 8/10 (30 March 2008)

In all of the movies that he has starred in (that I have seen), up until Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio has delivered reasonable but hardly block-busting performances. He had a superbly roguish charm in Titanic, and provided a considerable amount of tension in Gangs of New York, but these performances still didn't have the extra "oomph" that would boost the star to award-worthy levels.
However, since watching Catch Me If You Can, I have developed a deep respect for DiCaprio. Ever since that movie, his performances have just been getting better and better. And, just after the breathless exhilaration of his brilliant performance in Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Blood Diamond came out in cinemas.
Before I continue with the review for the rest of the film, I have something to say. As smuggler and former soldier Danny Archer, DiCaprio gives a rip-roaring, heart-pulsating performance of such breath-taking quality that he almost steals the movie from under the very talented noses of Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly.
With an absolutely top-notch accent and a gruff attitude that will undoubtedly insult a few Titanic fans, DiCaprio takes a huge risk with this role and ends up giving one of the best performances of his career. He is 100% believable in every minute of the film that he graces, and oozes crackling intensity. If I were asked to describe the performance in one sentence, I would say that it was undeniably Oscar worthy.
Sierra Leone, 1999. Fisherman Soloman Vandy's (Djimon Hounsou) life is destroyed when rebels invade his village and separate him from his family. Forced to work in the diamond fields, Solomon discovers a rare, pink diamond. He manages to hide it, but not before the leader of the rebels, Captain Poison (David Harewood) sees the diamond. Whilst being held in prison for being associated with rebels, Solomon encounters smuggler Danny Archer (DiCaprio), who says that he will help Solomon to find his family in exchange for the diamond. Together with reporter Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), Danny and Solomon set out to track down both Solomon's family and the diamond, which is still in hostile territory.
I have only seen one other movie directed by Edward Zwick, and that was the flawed yet brilliant Last Samurai. True, Blood Diamond is flawed, but it manages to match and in some areas (such as the top-notch story and cast) even surpass The Last Samurai in sheer quality. Zwick does a marvellous job, crafting some compelling action to go along with smart ideas and realism.
The acting is the most impressive factor in the movie. In my opinion, the only cast member who is able to stand against the wrath of DiCaprio is Djimon Hounsou. As Solomon Vandy, Hounsou delivers a performance full of such true, raw emotion that he confidently ensures that DiCaprio doesn't blow him off the screen. There are some moments of Hounsou's performance which are so heartbreakingly human and turmoiled that you aren't likely to forget this exceptional performance for a long time. Praise also for Jennifer Connelly, who delivers an energetic, feisty and humane portrayal of the film's main female character.
However, there are also scene-stealing turns from two members of the supporting cast; David Harewood and Arnold Vosloo. As the rebel captain who kidnaps Solomon's son amongst other things in order to find the diamond of the title, Harewood oozes a sadistic type of charisma. In one scene, after confronting a worker trying to conceal a diamond that he has just discovered, the captain calmly and smoothly shoots the worker in the stomach at point blank range, before walking away as if it were completely normal. He is an absolutely top-notch villain, perfectly realised by Harewood.
As a colonel and friend of Archer's, Vosloo gives a performance of gripping authority and commanding presence which makes the character much more than the caricature that he could have so easily become. His final scene is strangely poignant, due to the superb character moments between him and DiCaprio.
The settings, visuals and cinematography in the movie are also superb, adding a grand sense of grim reality and beauty to the proceedings. Its message is also pure and meaningful, and would have been perfectly realised if it weren't for the films only flaw. That flaw is called the ending.
There was the potential for an absolutely perfect ending. After being fatally wounded, Archer dies on the side of a cliff, whilst Solomon and his son fly to safety. That ending would have been the final factor that would have convinced me to give the movie full marks. But unfortunately, Zwick tries to bite off more than he can chew. His direction up until this point is always confident and assured, never becoming bogged down. But the ending feels like it has just been put into the movie as a last minute attempt to handle more political issues, which ultimately results in the betrayal of the rest of the movie. However, this is only one flaw (although it is reasonably significant). The overall result is a thrilling yet intelligent movie, with powerful performances, captivating visuals and and cinematography and effective emotional power. I highly recommend it, even if you just want to watch Leonardo DiCaprio or Djimon Hounsou.