Blood Diamond is a compelling drama about historical events

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2007)

Blood Diamond is a compelling dramatization of events in Sierra Leone in the late '90s concerning "conflict diamonds" that are used to finance war in African regions. Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou are fine as the smuggler and fisherman who reluctantly team up to achieve their own goals of survival and destination. Jennifer Connelly has the more difficult role of a reporter who explains what info she needs and serves as something of a romantic interest for DiCaprio but thankfully something tragic happens before it could come to fruition... Hounsou is especially good when he finds nearly all of his family except for his most cherished child: his son. And the accent and weariness of DiCaprio's character shows how far he's gone in prominence since his heartthrob days in Titanic. Both got well deserved Oscar nominations (though I think DiCaprio's should have been in the other film he made that year: Martin Scorsese's The Departed). Director Edward Zwick, best known for TV's "Thirtysomething" and "Once and Again", brings a compelling pace throughout. Well recommended for anyone interested in the events this movie depicts.