Title: Movie Review - Blood Diamond
agnesleong - January 6, 2007 04:49 PM (GMT)
I like Leonardo DiCaprio after I watched the movie 'Titantic'.
Glad to see Leonardo DiCaprio ...changing his look and acting skill...
to more intense and powerful.
"People back home wouldn't buy into a ring if they knew it cost someone his hand."
Conflict stones account for 15% of all diamonds sold. While that doesn't sound like much, it translates into 100's of millions of dollars for terrorist weaponry. Blood Diamond is a movie built around this startling fact.
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Written by: Charles Leavitt, Charlie Mitchell, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, James Purefoy, Arnold Vosloo
Distributor: Warner Bros
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller and Crime/Gangster
Rating: R for strong violence and language. [NC 16]
Running Time: 143 minutes
/Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Set against the backdrop of the 1990's civil war in Sierra Leone, the film follows Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) an ex-mercenary turned diamond smuggler who is in search of a rare pink diamond. Solomon Vandy (Djimon Housou), a Mende fisherman turned diamond field slave who hid the stone needs Archer's help to reunite with his family. Jennifer Connelly plays Maddy Bowen, an idealistic American journalist who seeks out Archer in an effort to write a story that could potentially change the world.
Leonardo's accent is a little questionable at first but quickly grows on you. Sure, the romance between Connelly and Leo needed a bit more work. Sure, the movie resorts to a cliche Hollywood ending. But it never crosses the line from good to bad.
It's not often that a movie is made to try to change the way the world thinks and succeeds. The result is usually a preachy message film which is quickly rejected by the mainstream public. The Blood Diamond has the potential to change the way the public thinks, and for the reason alone it's worthy of your time. It's a simple story with a complicated message.
*Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
*source from www.slashfilm.com
********************************************************************
Story
Diamond is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990s Sierra Leone, where we once again witness sheer, mindless brutality against innocent people. It doesn’t much bother Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), though. As a South African mercenary, he has wheeled and dealed most of his life to survive. He simply labels the atrocities as “TIA,” as in “This is Africa.” His latest gig is smuggling conflict diamonds out of the war-torn area, but Archer’s jaded point of view is changed slightly when he joins Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou)--a local fisherman whose family has been ripped away from him--on a quest for a rare pink diamond that could transform their lives. With the help of American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), who's there to try and make a difference, the two men trek through dangerous rebel territory--a journey that could save Solomon's family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have.
Acting
Both DiCaprio and Hounsou are already being Oscar-touted for their performances--and deservedly so. DiCaprio once again plays an antihero--you know, the R-rated guy you aren’t quite sure you trust--but he does so this time with a very colloquial South African accent. It’s a bit jarring at first, as if the actor is trying to do a British accent but not very well. Then you realize how spot-on it actually is and marvel at the nuances DiCaprio incorporates into the performance. Matching him step for step is Oscar-nominee Hounsou (In America) as the tortured Solomon. Of course, it’s through his eyes we see just how horrific the situation is, and Solomon’s quiet determination to get his family back is etched over the actor’s chiseled features. Connelly is no slouch either, looking tousled and gorgeous, despite the hell she goes through. But a noted standout is Kagiso Kuypers, who--in his debut performance--plays Solomon’s young son, taken by the rebels and forced to become a killing machine. It just gives you shivers.
Direction
If you aren’t quite sure what a conflict, or “blood,” diamond is, they are stones that have been smuggled out of countries at war, which are then used as a way to pay for more arms, increasing the death toll and violence in the region. Back in the late ‘90s, at the height of the conflict diamond industry, only a small percentage of these gems got into the Western market, but it was still a very viable and profitable business. It has all been curtailed greatly since then--and Sierra Leone is currently at peace--but Blood Diamond is a way to remind us how precarious it still can be. Director Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai) hammers this home with vivid images of human cruelty and suffering. But unlike its counterpart Hotel Rwanda, which concentrated on one individual and how he dealt with the atrocities, there are actually too many angles to the Diamond story, too many messages. It diffuses the film’s impact and drags it down, rather than strengthen it. Still, the diamond industry might see a decline in sales.
Critics Tomato Meter for: Blood Diamond
Powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Rating: FRESH | Reading:61 %
Consensus Line:
Blood Diamond overcomes poor storytelling with its biting commentary and fine performances.
Glad to see Leonardo DiCaprio ...changing his look and acting skill...
to more intense and powerful.
"People back home wouldn't buy into a ring if they knew it cost someone his hand."
Conflict stones account for 15% of all diamonds sold. While that doesn't sound like much, it translates into 100's of millions of dollars for terrorist weaponry. Blood Diamond is a movie built around this startling fact.
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Written by: Charles Leavitt, Charlie Mitchell, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, James Purefoy, Arnold Vosloo
Distributor: Warner Bros
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller and Crime/Gangster
Rating: R for strong violence and language. [NC 16]
Running Time: 143 minutes
/Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Set against the backdrop of the 1990's civil war in Sierra Leone, the film follows Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) an ex-mercenary turned diamond smuggler who is in search of a rare pink diamond. Solomon Vandy (Djimon Housou), a Mende fisherman turned diamond field slave who hid the stone needs Archer's help to reunite with his family. Jennifer Connelly plays Maddy Bowen, an idealistic American journalist who seeks out Archer in an effort to write a story that could potentially change the world.
Leonardo's accent is a little questionable at first but quickly grows on you. Sure, the romance between Connelly and Leo needed a bit more work. Sure, the movie resorts to a cliche Hollywood ending. But it never crosses the line from good to bad.
It's not often that a movie is made to try to change the way the world thinks and succeeds. The result is usually a preachy message film which is quickly rejected by the mainstream public. The Blood Diamond has the potential to change the way the public thinks, and for the reason alone it's worthy of your time. It's a simple story with a complicated message.
*Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
*source from www.slashfilm.com
********************************************************************
Story
Diamond is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990s Sierra Leone, where we once again witness sheer, mindless brutality against innocent people. It doesn’t much bother Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), though. As a South African mercenary, he has wheeled and dealed most of his life to survive. He simply labels the atrocities as “TIA,” as in “This is Africa.” His latest gig is smuggling conflict diamonds out of the war-torn area, but Archer’s jaded point of view is changed slightly when he joins Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou)--a local fisherman whose family has been ripped away from him--on a quest for a rare pink diamond that could transform their lives. With the help of American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), who's there to try and make a difference, the two men trek through dangerous rebel territory--a journey that could save Solomon's family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have.
Acting
Both DiCaprio and Hounsou are already being Oscar-touted for their performances--and deservedly so. DiCaprio once again plays an antihero--you know, the R-rated guy you aren’t quite sure you trust--but he does so this time with a very colloquial South African accent. It’s a bit jarring at first, as if the actor is trying to do a British accent but not very well. Then you realize how spot-on it actually is and marvel at the nuances DiCaprio incorporates into the performance. Matching him step for step is Oscar-nominee Hounsou (In America) as the tortured Solomon. Of course, it’s through his eyes we see just how horrific the situation is, and Solomon’s quiet determination to get his family back is etched over the actor’s chiseled features. Connelly is no slouch either, looking tousled and gorgeous, despite the hell she goes through. But a noted standout is Kagiso Kuypers, who--in his debut performance--plays Solomon’s young son, taken by the rebels and forced to become a killing machine. It just gives you shivers.
Direction
If you aren’t quite sure what a conflict, or “blood,” diamond is, they are stones that have been smuggled out of countries at war, which are then used as a way to pay for more arms, increasing the death toll and violence in the region. Back in the late ‘90s, at the height of the conflict diamond industry, only a small percentage of these gems got into the Western market, but it was still a very viable and profitable business. It has all been curtailed greatly since then--and Sierra Leone is currently at peace--but Blood Diamond is a way to remind us how precarious it still can be. Director Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai) hammers this home with vivid images of human cruelty and suffering. But unlike its counterpart Hotel Rwanda, which concentrated on one individual and how he dealt with the atrocities, there are actually too many angles to the Diamond story, too many messages. It diffuses the film’s impact and drags it down, rather than strengthen it. Still, the diamond industry might see a decline in sales.
Critics Tomato Meter for: Blood Diamond
Powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Rating: FRESH | Reading:61 %
Consensus Line:
Blood Diamond overcomes poor storytelling with its biting commentary and fine performances.
carolinewr - January 6, 2007 04:59 PM (GMT)
looks like a good movie to watch :)
diyanahomie - January 7, 2007 08:17 AM (GMT)
though i love Leo sooo much.. i dont really go to the cinema.. i havent watch lots of his movies too.. but i think i'll start to watch some now..
and i love it that he always get such good roles!! and those roles that he was considered for.. which he had acted in them.. smitten
and i love it that he always get such good roles!! and those roles that he was considered for.. which he had acted in them.. smitten
k-rex - January 8, 2007 04:21 PM (GMT)
Oh! Was trying to get tix for Night at the Museum last Sat, but it was sold out... so I decided to give Blood Diamond a try (didn't know anything about the story-line, but I figured that anything with Leo should be ok, right?). And boy, when I was watching the movie, I was soooooo glad that Night at the Museum was sold out. Because I thought this movie was brilliant! I must say it was a real eye-opener for me... especially on some of the atrocities that went on, such as the training of child soldiers. :angry:
On a lighter note, Leonardo is sooo gorgeous!!! smitten He looks so grown up now... no longer the kid from Growing Pains (haha, some of you may not know what I am talking about) or the skinny young man from Titanic. He looks so manly now... :lol:... and his acting is brilliant! smitten
On a lighter note, Leonardo is sooo gorgeous!!! smitten He looks so grown up now... no longer the kid from Growing Pains (haha, some of you may not know what I am talking about) or the skinny young man from Titanic. He looks so manly now... :lol:... and his acting is brilliant! smitten