Blood Diamond: An action packed drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou. The topic is one that needed to be brought to the big screen to make people aware of the devastation the diamond trade is causing in Africa. Set in the country of Sierra Leone during the 1990s - DiCaprio plays Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler who while in prison learns of a rare diamond that was found and hidden in the diamond fields. Solomon (Hounsou) plays a poor fisherman who hid the rare stone which he found while being forced to work in the diamond fields. He agrees to lead Danny Archer to the diamond, in return he wants Archer's help to find his family which was torn apart when his village was raided. The movie is filled with action, more so than I expected (but that was a good thing). The film also opens our eyes to the blood being shed over the diamond trade in Africa. Villages are raided by warlords who steal their children to join their militia. These children learn to kill at around the age of 10 – very disturbing. This is all done so they can smuggle diamonds and help finance the purchase of weapons to fuel the ongoing civil war. The acting by both DiCaprio and Hounsou is exceptional. The story drives home its point and may actually go a little over the top in the final scenes. Stories about these kinds of topics need to be made – having the film be as entertaining and powerful as it is ….is a bonus. Note: Guys if you are thinking of popping the question this Christmas consider seeing this movie before buying an overpriced and surprisingly common diamond.
* * * and ½ or Grade: A-
If this movie had parents they would be: The Constant Gardner & Romancing the Stone
With a running time of 128 minutes
This film is rated R
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