BLOOD DIAMOND (Edward Zwick, 2006) ***

Rating: 6/10 (18 May 2007)

This film created some controversy when it emerged because it exposed the grim realities behind the diamond industry. Combining action, politics, romance and star power, BLOOD DIAMOND is well-made but essentially manipulative and sentimental; one even begins to doubt its intentions, whether it was genuinely made to raise awareness of the situation in South African diamond-mines or film-wise exploit their novelty and scoop value!
Leonardo Di Caprio is saddled with a silly accent - I personally found his performance in THE DEPARTED (2006) more impressive; Jennifer Connelly is pretty good, but her character seems like a glamorized version of a modern female reporter; as for Djimon Honsou, his undeniably heartfelt performance too often translates into grating hysterics. The rambling narrative sags alarmingly in its third act and, in any case, the film is full of the hand-held carnage we've been suffering from for the last decade or so!
It's been a week since I've watched BLOOD DIAMOND and, honestly, I can find nothing more appreciative to say about it which would justify my relatively high rating. Let's just say that it's a good film coming from today's Hollywood - but, as with most modern product, it's something I don't really need to ever revisit...