“Blood Diamond”
Directed by: Edward Zwick. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly.
“Blood Diamond”, directed by Edward Zwick, tells the tragedy of the war and rebellions in Sierra Leone in 1999. In particular, it examines the fight for one spectacular diamond and all the blood shed to gain control of it.
Leonardo DiCaprio is Danny Archer, a former soldier who now works in the conflict diamond trade as a diamond and gun smuggler. While in jail, Archer overhears a rebel accuse another inmate of having found and hid a huge diamond. Djimon Hounsou is Soloman Vandy, a fisherman who was recently violently separated from his family and made to work looking for diamonds.
After Archer’s release from prison, he helps free Vandy in order to get a hold of the diamond himself. Archer later enlists the aid of Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist stationed in the region.
Together, Archer, Vandy and Bowen set out to recover the diamond. Each of them is motivated by their own goals. Archer is motivated by greed- a diamond that big could set him up for life. Bowen wants to write a story that matters- one that will motivate Americans and the world to take notice of the atrocities of the conflict diamond industry. Vandy wants only to reunite his family- especially his son who he learns has been recruited into the rebel army.
The story of the war in Sierra Leone is complicated and affected millions of lives- it’s almost too much to comprehend. But when viewed through the eyes of one man who’s life is devastated because of the illegal diamond trade, it’s easier to understand the tragedy of it all.
It’s an interesting and successful combination of action-thriller and issue film. It succeeds due to its great performances, thrilling action sequences, and tragically true to life story.
Story: B+
Acting: A
Visuals: A
Originality: B
Enjoyability: B
Overall: A-
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