Worthy and welcome

Rating: Null/10 (22 May 2011)

There are not many Hollywood movies shot in Africa that deal with a specifically African subject, so this examination of the role of conflict diamonds in wars such as that in Sierra Leone is worthy and welcome. It is written by Charles Leavitt ("K-PAX") and directed by Edward Zwick ("The Last Samarai") and it was filmed largely in Mozambique with other scenes in South Africa.
The film does not flinch from depicting some terrible images including child soldiers and limb amputation and raises the question of responsibility of the diamond industry plus governments and media. However, at heart this is an action thriller revolving around three very different characters: African-born white smuggler Danny Archer played by Leonard Di Caprio whose accent here may vacillate somewhat but whose thespian talents continue to grow; Solomon Vandy, a local fisherman and father, portrayed by Benin-born Djimon Hounsou who was so memorable in "Gladiator"; and American journalist and campaigner Maddy Bowen acted by one-time model Jennifer Connelly of "A Beautiful Mind".
Politically this is a somewhat simplistic offering but its intentions are honourable and it manages to be entertaining as well as instructive.