Sparkling movie

Rating: 8/10 (29 October 2007)

Blood diamond was a critically acclaimed movie & touted as the best movie of 2006. It really lived up to that reputation as far as I am concerned.
It is a plot driven story of a Sierra Leon worker, who is separated from his family during the internal conflict. Later, his life revolves around a large piece of conflict diamond that he discovered while working as a forced labor in the diamond mines. He comes across several people with vested interest in that diamond including Leonardo Di Caprio. Jenifer Connelly plays the role of a journalist who wants to expose the whole conflict diamond trade link. The escapades of the trio from the conflict zone remind you of a bond movie. The movie is fast paced and it also explores the emotional aspect of the relationships between different people.
The best aspect of the movie is the hard core reality that it has portrayed about the life in war-torn Africa. The way the conflict has affected the life of people & the way children have been forced to take up arms & join the rebels. It has also raised a question as to how diamonds that we long to possess actually cost people in Africa their life. Sometimes it makes you feel that you are watching a documentary on BBC.
The performance of Djimon Hounsou as Solomon Vandy, the African worker is exemplary & surely makes him a strong candidate for the Oscars. Even Jenifer Connelly has played the role of a conscientious journalist to perfection. Leo has also done justice to his part as a Rhodesian diamond smuggler.
All in all it's a movie which is definitely worth watching both for the artistic value as well as the awareness it creates.