Oscar worthy DiCaprio, Oscar worthy film

Rating: 9/10 (10 December 2006)

Having just looked at the numbers for this weekend at the box office, it's a bit saddening to see a popcorn film at the top of the list over an intelligently made action/adventure film of much higher caliber and quality.
I've been waiting for Mr. DiCaprio to pull off something as original as Jack Dawson in the Titanic, and I think that here he's managed to do just that. And now he's got real action hero chops, knocking people around and knocking off the bad guys with a power rifle while dodging bullets and bodies.
In general, it seems, the American public pays virtually no attention to the horrors of Africa, and why should we when we can simply change the channel and not look. Watching the fleeing white Surban with O.J. Simpson on CNN was much easier on the digestive system, and that lasted nearly as long as a good movie.
While I doubt this movie will have that kind of lasting affect, I certainly hope people will go to see it at least for the thrilling yarn that it spins. It's completely captivating and not to be missed.