Chinese food of a film.

Rating: 7/10 (25 February 2007)

A solid entry to the 'trials of post-colonial Africa' sub-genre, Blood Diamond is a bit like a lavish Chinese takeaway. It feels very good and is quite moving when you're watching it, the acting from DiCaprio and Hounsou is strong stuff and, as ever, Connelly is radiantly beautiful, but ten minutes after the film I feltnot much. Maybe it is just less affecting than Last King of Scotland, or, as someone without a diamond in the house, maybe the guilt trip it lays was less pressing than the unilateral Western shame of Hotel Rwanda. Either way, I think this is a solid and enjoyable movie, but less potent than the director and all-star cast were perhaps hoping for.