This truly was a hidden diamond...

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2014)

Although this movie came out in 2006, I haven't seen it before now. Why? Well, because I am not much of a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio's work, and thus never saw any reason for taking the time to sit down and watch this movie, not before yesterday when I happened to come across it showing on TV.
I must admit that I have been missing out on something great here. This movie was actually quite good, and Leonardo is out of his usual boyish roles and do put on a great performance; and he even had the accent down quite well.
Oddly enough that I never got around to seeing the movie, because I do like Jennifer Connelly, but I never knew that she had a role in the movie.
The story in "Blood Diamond" is quite interesting, and it is captivating from the very beginning, and the story doesn't let you go before the movie comes to an end - an ending that was quite predictable, mind you. But what makes the story stand out so strongly is the realism and brutality of the storyline about the illegal diamond trade and mining.
The cinematography and camera-work throughout the movie was superb, adding a sense of you being right there in it all to the movie. And that helped pump up the adrenaline throughout the action sequences, but also added to the majestic beauty of the African scenery.
The acting performances were quite good, and especially hats off to Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou who carried the movie so graciously.
I was more than genuinely surprised by this movie, and it is really a movie that is well worth watching. So don't wait 8 years before doing so, get to it...