Men.

Rating: 8/10 (17 April 2010)

I'm going to start by saying that I felt this movie very deeply, partly due to it's very powerful and emotional story, partly because of the solid and strong performances of DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou which was a good surprise.
This movie has a political side to it, the RUF (Revolutionary United Front) is a violent group of rebels that kidnaps children, destroys their innocence with drugs and alcohol transforming them into one of the rebels themselves with a complete brainwash, while enslaving adults to work on a diamond field. Diamonds those, that are used to fund their war. However the main point of interest in this film, is the quest of a fisherman (Djimon Hounsou), made slave by the RUF, to try and save his son, who was kidnapped by RUF as well, when he is rescued by a diamond smuggler (Leonardo Dicarpio) who is only interested in... diamonds.
The story becomes a painful journey for these men, each one using the other to reach their own goal. It's interesting to see the evolution of the relationship between them and the character development twists as they become closer. Specially interesting to see is the inner conflicts going on with DiCpario's character.
It becomes with no doubt an emotional ride within a violent and intense story. I don't mean violent in a graphical way (the movie has some very tough scenes though), but violent in the way the movie explores and deals with the darkest and evilest sides of men's nature as well as what despair and force of will can achieve.
If I was child living in the situation those African children were living, I would look at the RUF and I would see the purest state of fear and evil, so great of an evil that it could torture and twist you to the point of destroying all the good and innocent in you and transform you in fear itself. Now this is what this child is experiencing and what this father is trying to stop at all costs... heavy no? This movie is definitely worth to be seen, it's a human story with a inhuman side to it, though not everyone will have an easy time watching it. I watched this movie with my father (who is actually a very sensitive person concerning movies and not-only) and he greatly enjoyed the movie but had trouble watching some of the more powerful scenes due to its incredible realism.
Great story, great drama, powerful performances and a beautiful reporter as well (Jennifer Conneli, I forgot to mention you!). The best movie of the genre I've watched, no-doubt.