Often bleak but certainly compelling

Rating: 7/10 (26 October 2007)

With its brutally honest look at the harsh realities of life in war-torn Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond can at times be a hard movie to sit through. But there is no denying the fact that the story told here is very powerful and compelling. With atrocities occurring all around this film certainly has its share of painful, depressing moments. But the story is so good, and that story is performed so well by a fine cast, that the film is well worth your while.
The film is set in 1999, when Sierra Leone was in the midst of a brutal civil war. In the midst of this war, the big business of illegally exporting diamonds out of the war zone carries on. Our story here mainly focuses on two men caught up in this illicit, and often deadly, business. Djimon Hounsou plays Solomon Vandy, a loving husband and father living a relatively simple, peaceful life as a fisherman. That peaceful life is shattered when rebels come to his village, take his family away and put him to work searching for diamonds. The other key character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is Danny Archer, a "soldier of fortune" as he describes himself who makes his living smuggling diamonds out of Africa. These two men's paths will cross in jail, Archer there after one of his smuggling efforts goes awry, Solomon having been rounded up in a government raid on the rebels' diamond mining operation. While in jail, Archer learns that Solomon has a secret. Just before being hauled off to jail Solomon had found, and proceeded to bury, a huge diamond of immense value. When the two men are released form jail, they form an uneasy alliance. Solomon will lead Archer to the diamond, Archer will help Solomon find his family. These mens' respective quests, and their very different motivations, will drive the film.
While the story certainly is a strong one the film does tend to drag at times. A few scenes left on the cutting room floor probably would have helped matters. There are some "action" moments sprinkled throughout but it's certainly not an action film. It's well-done compelling human drama. Hounsou is terrific in his role, brilliantly bringing the strong, powerful, determined Solomon to life. DiCaprio is also very good, although in a minor quibble, he never does seem entirely comfortable with the accent. Jennifer Connelly has a smaller role as one of those idealistic investigative reporters who always seem to turn up in movies like this. Her character in many ways is very clichéd but Connelly does a good job with what she has to work with. All in all this film may fall just short of being labeled great but it is certainly very good and well worth seeing.