Hard-hitting viewing!

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2007)

Film Review: Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio; Djimon Hounsou; Jennifer Connelly and Arnold Vosloo
Greed and gratuitous violence coupled with some stellar performances
Perhaps the film's message cuts too close to the bone; perhaps it's the miserable plight of the indigent Africans that scared viewers away or maybe it's Leonardo DiCaprio's Southern African accent.
Either way, Blood Diamond tanked at the Box Office, but this film is nothing less than a masterpiece.
Blood Diamond tracks the ruthless world of warlords, mayhem and power vacuums in Africa's rural heartland. It is as much the story of one man's fight to save his family, Solomon Vandy (Djimon), as it is another man's fight to absolve himself, Danny Archer (Leo), from a hateful life.
This film is up there with some of the most riveting films in recent times. Leonardo DiCaprio has again turned in a brilliant performance as a former Rhodesian, turned South African wreckie from 32 Battalion, in search of Blood Diamonds.
Theatre goers will be hopelessly unnerved by the wanton destruction and savagery depicted in this epic saga. The heart wrenching scenes take some getting used to, but behind the chaos lies a carefully scripted storyline.
Child soldiers are a real part of Africa's rebel movements and the producers of this $100 million work of art have captured the essence of Africa's battle with greed and corruption.
Central to the storyline is the virtual monopoly on sales of Diamonds. De Beers is substituted by the Van De Kaap consortium, but it's all the same ruthless capitalist element. The Caucasian elitist fatcats seek nothing more than profits  at any cost. With totalitarian control over the diamond market and artificially high prices, it is an industry desperate to maintain higher demand than supply.
This is truly a knockout film and one you certainly wouldn't want to miss!