A miss

Rating: 2/10 (25 March 2008)

I cringed of embarrassment for the sometimes awful performance by Dicaprio and Connelly. Archer is not a role for Dicaprio who never never appears convincing... it needed more ruggedness and maturity. Dicaprio always looks like he just walked out of a beauty parlor where he got his nails done. Dicaprio is an obviously intelligent, slender man with boyish looks... he shinned in Titanic and Catch me if you can, where the charm and sensitivity of his being comes through with honesty. But tough South African diamond smuggler and killer... no way. This movie could of done without the sappy romance.... which usually ruins any decent adventure film. The photography is stale and outdated. This is Africa... stunning valleys, immense rivers and water falls... nothing of that here. On the plus side, Djimon Hounsou is quite good and the movie is informative on the subject of these boy soldiers and the diamond industry (which is a complete sham by the way). The best performance comes from the band of rebels. The kids are frightening. That's really well done. I wanted to vomit when the final scene rolled on.... a standing ovation?? With proper directing, better photography and a change of actors this could of been a Syriana. Better luck next time.