Truth. Freedom. It will cost you everything.
Rating: 8/10
Running Time: 143 minutes
US Certificate: R UK Certificate: 15
On DVD
Once in a blue moon you get a film that is preachy but good. Blood Diamond certainly has to be commended for highlighting an injustice and bringing it to the attention of the world in a more entertaining and well-made way than other awful efforts like Angelina Jolie’s truly terrible Beyond Borders. With Blood Diamond, learning IS fun. Yippee.
Leonardo DiCaprio is Danny Archer, a key player in the conflict diamonds industry (diamonds coming out of countries in conflicts, of course) until he meets Solomon, a Sierra Leonean father (Hounsou) and the beautiful American investigative reporter Maddy (Connelly) during a civil war in Sierra Leone. Solomon finds a huge diamond but is arrested and his son is kidnapped and taken to work in the deadly diamond mines. When Archer learns of the diamond, he makes a deal with Solomon to take his diamond in exchange for the return of his son, and to do this, he enlists the help of the idealistic Maddy.
Zwick’s movie is fast-paced with a nicely balanced mixture of action and mostly interesting dialogue that make light of it’s hefty two and a half hour runtime. It’s kind of like a James Bond adventure with a few more braincells and less hammy jokes. Controversial point: I reckon DiCaprio does an excellent job with the accent – full of enthusiasm and a brave attempt not to stick with the stereotypical Middle English accent. Yes, it can be slightly inconsistent and it’s very easy to parody (it had me saying “Bru” for months) but could you do any better? Do you think Mark Wahlberg or Shia LaBouef could (or would even try)? I doubt it.
It's Got: Fast-paced action and plot, two sides to the conflict diamond story, a two and a half hours runtime
It Needs: You to respect the accent, Bru.
DVD Extras A very earnest Directors Commentary, a fifty minute "Blood on the Stone" documentary about the Sierra Leone civil war, a couple of mini feaurettes and a music video - a pretty interesting supplementary package. DVD Extras Rating: 8/10
Summary
An African adventure with a heart and a questionable accent. Definitely, more fun and less depressing than watching an informercial, bru.