Good intentions, average movie

Rating: 4/10 (14 April 2009)

Going a little further than just displaying Africa's doomed fate, bringing more than routine characters, telling us a story about people before it is about politics and economics... in all three directions Blood Diamond is weak.
Edward Zwick's work brings no emotion, no suspense, to a story that is already too episodic and blended with on-the-nose dialogue. The actors try to make us believe in their stories, but they're one-dimension characters with some stock back-stories to make up for true flesh and bones. Djimon Honsou's part is the one that works best: it is simple alright, yet it never comes near to filling the flatness and predictability of "Big Boy" DiCaprio's nice and tidy mercenary.
Fortunately the location scouting was great, and Jennifer Connelly is gorgeous although only a part of the glorious scenery. On the whole, a very forgettable movie with good intentions (honest or not, we shall never know).