a truly moving picture

Rating: 8/10 (19 June 2007)

My friends kept telling me how good this was, so I finally checked it out. This was really good. It concerns Sierra Leone in a time of unrest and the illegal export of diamonds. One very rare pink diamond, the blood diamond of the title, is the catalyst that brings a smuggler, a local, and a reporter together.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives a terrific performance in this, is there a better actor in the world under forty? DIjimon Hounsou is equally impressive and Jennifer Connelly, looking great as she did in the old days, is good to. The move is not usually my type of thing and it is very violent. However thats probably necessary in a film like this. Director Ed Zwick (Legends of the Fall, Glory) keeps things moving fairly well and the film manages to make you think and care about he people. No easy feat, the characters, with the exception of Solomon (Hounsou) are out for themselves. Also in this cynical age it takes some creative dialog to get to you. Blood Diamond accomplishes this quite well.
The film delivers a powerful message without being preachy and the film deserved the accolades it received. kudos to all involved, a great film.