Thursday 26 May 2011

Blood Diamond (2006) Review By Michael Heath

Blood Diamond PosterDirector: Edward Zwick
Writer: Charles Leavitt
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller

A smuggler, a fisherman and a journalist. No I'm not starting with a three men walk into a bar joke. This is the 5 Academy award nominated film Blood Diamond. Which tells us a story around the time of the civil war in Sierra Leone 1999, of which diamonds are the main source of funds for these terrorist groups.

This film gives you a realistic view on what Sierra Leona was like during the civil war. The action and violence portrayed in this film is believable in accordance to what may have happened there, although the violence is believable it still entertaining none the less, from the attacks on the cities to the killings of the tribes. The shock value of the film is astonishing and I quote; "Here we say that the freedom is in your hands, so if you go against us, so go your hands.".

Djimon Hounsou plays the increasing more emotional role of a Mende fisherman called Soloman Vandy after losing his family then finding out that his son has been taken and forced to be an R.U.F. child soldier, You truly believe and feel for his loss, only by his impressive display of emotion. Jennifer Connelly play the role of Maddy Bowen a journalist who's drive is to uncover the story behind conflict diamonds, although this is not a particularly impressive performance and could have been for filled be any budding actress this characters involvement with Danny Archer pushes him into showing his humanity even though it's through greed, this is not to say Jennifer's performance was a downer on the film in any way. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in this film is amazing at the time of it's release I would easily have said it was his best performance to date. Playing the role of Danny Archer the ex-mercenary, for his own personal gains as merciless yet charming diamond smuggler. Who shows some decent values towards people other than himself, you get a real sense that he is a white African who grew up in the country. A great film by any ones standards it's most defiantly a must see.

Rating 9/10

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