A treasure hunt amid war and strife

Rating: 7/10 (12 September 2009)

This colorful but violent drama has a basic plot of a frantic search for a large, pink diamond by a smuggler, a peaceful villager and assorted mercenary types during Sierra Leone's civil war. Leonardo di Caprio and Djimon Hounsou form an uneasy partnership in their hunt for the precious stone and struggle to keep one step ahead of pursuing rebel troops and soldiers of fortune. Journalist Jennifer Connelly plays up to di Caprio hoping to get an exclusive story about the true horrors of the diamond trade in war-torn African countries. Connelly wants to expose a complicated pipeline of diamond smuggling and laundering that finances the rebel troops and prolongs the horrors and suffering of citizens of Sierra Leone. Another plot angle is the seizure and brainwashing of Hounsou's young son by the rebels. The boy is trained to kill without hesitation or conscience, as are scores of young African boys against government soldiers. Di Caprio and Hounsou are very good, while Connelly seems to be the conscience of this picture which leaves a bittersweet taste.