movie minute

Blood Bauble: In Edward Zwick's (The Last Samurai, Legends Of The Fall) new film, Blood Diamond (R), Leonardo DiCaprio plays a tough diamond smuggler who gets wind of a diamond that is hidden and will stop at nothing to find it. Rounding out the main cast is Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly. Hounsou plays Solomon, a father who is desperately searching for his family and then realizes his son has been kidnapped by rebels who want to recruit him. Connelly plays Maddy who is a tenacious journalist determined to expose the illegal diamond trade. Lest you think this is fiction, it's not. Before the Kimberley process was signed by 40 different nations, conflict diamonds were rearing their heads into the stores of mainstream jewelers. Diamonds were sold for ammunition or drugs. Even today, there are still conflict (blood) diamonds so it's imperative for people to make sure that the diamonds they are buying are legit.

The film isn't great and it takes a long time to get where it's so obvious it's going. And there are too many scenes in which villages or people are shot at. Ok, I get it, it's a violent country. The standout here is, of course, Hounsou. He gives a terrific performance of a man who is willing to part with the diamond he found in order to get his family back. Connelly, too, is really good. I'm not an expert on accents and I cannot do them but it seemed like DiCaprio's accent kept coming and going. Why not just speak American? It was distracting and I don't think he's a great actor to begin with.

One other bone I have to pick with this movie is the writing; some of it is just downright unbelievable. I want to know how much the writers got paid and how long it took them to come up with lines such as, "In America it's bling-bling, in Africa it's bling-bang." Ooh, that's so hot and clever. I have to use that! DiCaprio's character actually utters that line at one pont (it's also featured in the trailer) and there are some other less than inspiring lines in the movie.

There's a lot of violence and it seems like a meandering mess for the first 35mins but it's worth it to see Hounsou's performance.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 2.75

possible Oscar noms

Best Supporting Actor: Djimon Hounsou

paul