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Blood Diamond (DVD, 2007, 2-Disc Set, Special Edition)
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The story line which utilizes a handful of characters to illustrate the chaos that erupts in Africa when warring factions compete over resources that can be sold to wealthy countries. Djimon Hounsou stars as Solomon Vandy, a simple fisherman of the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone who hopes to provide for his family, and in particular his son Dia (Kagiso Kuypers), who he hopes will someday become a doctor. However, after Solomon's village is raided by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), he is separated from his family and taken to a diamond-mining camp under the control of Capt. Poison (David Harewood). After his capture, Solomon stumbles upon a large, pink diamond, which he manages to bury — it's only because of a government raid that he's able to hide it from Capt. Poison, but, once in jail, the commander publicly accuses Solomon of concealing the most precious diamond ever seen. Overhearing matters is Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a Rhodesian-born diamond smuggler who transports internationally banned stones from Sierra Leone to neighboring Liberia — a border bust has temporarily landed him in the Freetown lockup, he's on the hook to his former mercenary commander (Arnold Vosloo) for the lost goods, and he's been publicly disowned by his employers, the Van De Kaap cartel, who claim to have no interest in "conflict diamonds." American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) hopes the cynical Archer will make a good story, if not a better background source on the black-market diamond trade, although he gives her little regard. It's only after the RUF invades Freetown that Archer realizes he must get Solomon to lead him to the pink diamond, and use Maddy's influence to get them there. Blood Diamond ranks among the most ambitious films released in 2006, and it even earned Leonardo DiCaprio an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (rather than in the more-celebrated The Departed, where he was equally good). However, it failed to connect with audiences to the expected degree, taking in just $56 million domestically. Some might guess that moviegoers simply didn't think that a story of factional atrocities in coastal Africa would amount to escapist entertainment; it's also likely that others might not want to know precisely where some of their precious stones actually come from, and at what cost. However, the story (credited to Charles Leavitt and C. Gaby Mitchell) balances the focus between the politic and the personal, and there's little question that Danny Archer is the deeply flawed antihero of the piece. As can be expected, DiCaprio fully invests himself in the part, from his regional accent and occasional patois to his skills at subterfuge and tradecraft. Archer may speak of leaving Africa someday, but it seems unlikely that he ever will, and before long we discover that he's not simply a white man in Africa, but African himself, simply one more element of the continent's complex post-colonial tapestry.Read full review
"Blood Diamond" runs the gamut from pulse-pounding to heart-wrenching. The metamorphosis of Leonardo DiCaprio into the character Danny Archer and of Danny Archer himself are mesmerizing. Djimon Hounsou is intense as a dignified, dedicated, and determined father, Solomon Vandy. He pours himself into this role, as he does so often, and the result is unforgettable. Jennifer Connelly, while not as strong as DiCaprio or Hounsou, puts in a solid performance as the dogged reporter Maddy Bowen, who is determined that one woman's work with the written word can make a difference in the world. This is truly a "what kind of person do you want to be?"-type movie. While fictional, it is a solemn wake-up call that shines a light in places we don't talk about at parties. "To whom much has been given, much will be expected." As Americans or residents of any of the richer nations, will we turn our heads in the name of our comfort and convenience while Africa rips itself apart, country after country? It is indeed hard to be conscientious about EVERYTHING (witness how difficult it truly is to break our dependence on foreign oil and what we will do for it), but we dare not throw up our hands and say it's just too big, there's nothing I can do. "Blood Diamond" reminds us of that fact without being sanctimonious or overly "preachy". As you witness the atrocities portrayed in this movie, and how they affect the characters, particularly Archer, you will feel an exquisite pain for their own pain, which they relate with such complexity and intensity. I believe this is Hounsou's best work since "Amistad", and could very well be DiCaprio's best role ever. In the special edition, the featurettes on disc 2 are informative and well-produced though amazingly raw. Particular among these is "Blood on the Stone", created by native-Sierra Leonian documentary filmmaker Sorious Samura. In this featurette, Samura relates the frustrating account of how even though the civil war has ended in Sierra Leone, the Kimberley Process for stemming the flow of conflict diamonds is still so easily circumvented. It is an apropos dose of reality that complements the fictitious story of the movie quite powerfully. In all, "Blood Diamond" is definitely a must-see, and an excellent addition to a movie library for parents who want to teach their growing children (when they are old enough to view such material) about the world and how we might hold on to the hope of making a difference in it.Read full review
This movie has got a GREAT story, and even got nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Actor(Leonardo DiCaprio), and Best Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou)etc. I wasn't really a big fan of Leonardo, but this time I am truly deeply amazed by his acting skills. I am definitely giving this movie and all the casts A++++++++++++++++++++++++. They did a great job. =) Who knew there were so many bloody stories behind these gorgeous diamonds. Just like mink hunters catch and kill so many mink to make one mink coat. So Bloody!!!! Anyways, this is a GREAT MOVIE. I HIGHLY recommend to everyone (not good for children....too bloody).
True story of the illegal diamond trade in Africa, specifically Sierra Leone. They are called "Blood Diamonds" because the money supports nothing but bloodshed. The warlord gangs steal children as young as six years old and often force them to murder their own parents. Most are then drug addicted and forced to fight as child soldiers or in the case of females, they are turned into prostitutes. In this film, Solomon Vandy is enslaved to work in a diamond mine. His son has been taken as a child soldier, and he has vowed to find and rescue him. He finds a large pink diamond somewhere around 100+ ct. Such a stone is almost priceless. He hides the stone but the head soldier suspects him and his life is in severe jeopardy. He manages to escape this camp and is in contact with a known smuggler. If the stone can be retrieved and smuggled to England it can be sold on the underground market. The smuggler, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), plans to steal the stone and tells Vandy he will help him find his family. The alliance sets out to rescue the missing child. This is a serious subject and the movie does a good job of showing the horrific plight of this land and these people, along with the resulting damage being perpetrated on this land by the lawlessness of the illegal diamond trade.Read full review
I should note that I'm not much of a Leo Dicaprio fan, but I can admit he was quite good in this film. All of the acting was above average for an action movie, in fact. Jennifer Connelly was as good as ever, though her character didn't have the same depth as in roles she's previously played (Requiem for a Dream, Waking the Dead, etc.). The action starts early, and there are only a few lulls in the middle. The story is interesting (see link above), even though it has a big political message. Luckily the politics are not as intrusive as they could have been - this movie weaves them in much like Lord of War did. The cinematography is great, really demonstrating how some parts of Africa are absolutely beautiful. I highly suggest seeing this film.
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