Good movie - bad accent and some other notes:

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2008)

I enjoyed this movie and thought that the political message of it was important. The acting was decent especially by the main black character who played the father. He was completely believable in his emotions and focus on his son.
I did have issues with Leonardo's accent though since it really did not come across as authentic at all. Some of the beginning of his performance to me was a little weak and almost like he was posing for the camera half the time. Also, did he need to smoke that much for this character? I assume Dicaprio is a fond smoker himself given that he practically smoked in every scene of this movie! I really didn't understand why the smoking was so glamorized in this movie. Coming from losing a mother to lung cancer I guess I have a different perspective but i didn't see that it was necessary for the constant smoking in the scenes.
Towards the end however I feel that Dicaprio shined in his acting and in his change of heart towards his greediness in obtaining the big diamond. you could see his conflict within himself in wanting to help the father find/save the son and from his own greedy desires.
Overall, it was a really good film but if i compared it to "the constant gardener" I would have to say that this film is inferior to that level of a movie. Definitely worth a watch but could do without Dicaprio's fake accent and constant smoking!