The Blood Diamond- Could it be Leo's chance to Shine at the Oscars?

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2007)

Edward Zwick's new film the Blood Diamond is a true piece of cinematic art. Leonardo Dicaprio once again delivers a powerful performance & is without a doubt a tour de force.Playing a South African there was concern about the accent but he has perfected it to such a degree that one can mistake him for an Afrikaner.nobody could've embodied such a complex character better or with more honesty and he gives Danny Archer so much depth.Even with a different accent he never wavers. Both Djimon & Jennifer give fantastic performances and should not be overlooked in any way,Djimon is very emotionally engaging and has a great presence on screen while Jennifer brings a softer side to the tough reporter she portrays giving a quiet but memorable performance.These characters are raw and real and they draw you into their world.add to that locations & outstanding cinematography with its panning shots and fast paced angles used during the action sequences & you have a film that is so gripping it captures its audience like a rabbit in a snare. although the story & the characters are fictitious the issue of conflict-diamonds is very real.this can be seen as the eye-opening film of the year and will hopefully cause us to recognize what corruption occurs when people take advantage of their own struggling countries to ensure their own selfish gain.Zwick has successfully made a heartfelt action drama with emotional depth and which opens us up to the horrors of the civil war of 1999.He brings fact and fiction together beautifully and we feel for both the characters and the situation faced in Sierre Leone.the theme has stirred concern but in my opinion that only makes the film more worthy.It truly deserves Oscar praise in all categories.