Good movie but could have been a great film...

Rating: 8/10 (2 February 2007)

This film was entertaining for sure. Everyone should see it. If I ever have someone worth a ring on their finger this will make me choose another stone...
I want to keep this short and to the point. I feel others have said some great things.
1. The film has a "hollywood" feel to it. I wish they could have captured more of the city of god/man of the year cinematography, but still this is not a big deal.
2. Leo & Djimon are great. Period. They are worthy of the Oscar noms. The accent is very good from Dicaprio, having known some South Africans in my day. After the first few minutes it becomes seamless and natural...just hits you right away and there is a sort of shock factor with it. The villain leader was great as well.
3. I feel that as someone said the ending should have been on the mountain. This is where I can see the diamond cartels influence (can anyone say DeBeers). THis is the dirtiest business in the world...and it is easy to see that this needed to be a feel good story at the end the mag. story and all of that...it could have ended with the shot of the dirt then the shot of the article showing Leo/Danny's face in the b&w photo. would have been a stark ending...
The happy ending knocks this one back a great deal. That is the rose-colored glasses mentality, a happy ending and everyone can buy more diamonds...BS the movie should have ended with Danny and the dirt...looking out over the "godforsaken land" as he said...there could have been a quote from earlier in the film...another quote about Africa going through his head as he looks over the country...as he talks to the girl...I was feeling my stomach fall out at this point...only to find there was more...which was more industry than art! It would have helped a corrupt "rhodeisan" racist, smuggler who was sandbaggin the industry to come to a moral full circle of sorts.
I am touched visualizing it...Also if the Reporter and Danny had been involved that would have tied into the ending again...making Leo's role even better and locking the Oscar up for him...
-good movie (long but ties up nicely at the end) not a great film as said before...solid acting in the lead roles...the movie felt restrained from being the masterpiece that it so nearly was...just would have been too provocative...
one quote made me laugh about USA etc.
-"people would not wear a diamond if they knew people lost arms etc.," Bull-S**t! I know sooo many women who would not care...
Solid 8/10.