Starring - Leonardo Di Caprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou & Michael Sheen.
Running Time - 138 minutes
Rated - 15
When watching films that are based on real life facts, they seem to engage me even more. Blood Diamond is another classic example of this, as its realism only seems to make it even more gripping. Let me also warn you that this isn’t a glossed up Hollywood movie where everyone survives and live happily ever after. This tells the story of the diamonds which are mined in war zones and sold to finance the conflicts. The title Blood Diamond comes from the fact that blood is spilled in order for these diamonds to be in our shop windows.
The film is based in Sierra Leone and follows two men whose everyday problems couldn’t be more different than the other, but whom will come to rely upon each other to achieve their aim and ultimately survive. Solomon Mandy (Hounsou) is a fisherman who is captured by a rebel group, and separated from his family. Upon his capture he is forced into slavery to mine for diamonds. Whilst mining he discovers a priceless diamond which he manages to hide before government troops storms the fields.
Danny Archer (DiCaprio) is an arms dealer who’s imprisoned for trying smuggle diamonds out of Sierra Leone. He is imprisoned in the same jail and hears of this diamond, which would be his ticket out of Africa. The two men are united in the pursuit of Mandy’s family and Archer’s prize diamond which he needs to stay alive.
It is impossible to turn your attention away from this film throughout, and this was made even easier as my phone didn’t ring once during it! The two lead actors are simply sensational, and their performances were both credited with Academy Award nominations. DiCaprio seems able to play any part, and not only that he plays it with vigor and gusto, even his Zimbabwean accent is convincing! Hounsou, is equally sensational, and you feel his personal feelings for the film topic come through in his performance.
Although the action is often brutal, and often belies the certificate 15 rating it was given it was necessary to get across the appropriate message. Unfortunately there is no holding back when it comes to real life conflict. Please watch this film, not only for what it offers as a movie, but what it tries to tell you as a story.
Best Bit: Not a truly uplifting film in the sense of what the story is about, but the moment when Vandy and Archer finally become partners.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5, a non cliché thriller, where DiCaprio and Hounsou excel and are supported by great excitement and action.
