Blood Diamond Reviews

Amazing action film! It's not as deep, but the performances and touching story carry it home strong. I love showing this to my friends and family!

I already saw this movie but, since it was a while back, I thought I might as well check it out again. Leonardo DiCaprio has a pretty impressive track-record but, to be honest, some of his movies are a little bit overrated in my opinion and this movie definitely belongs to this category. Anyway, let’s start with the good stuff. It was dealing with a topical subject and the whole thing looked actually really grim and realistic. In fact, when I re-watched it, I was with my wife and she was actually really shocked by how dark and violent the whole thing was. Eventually, she was even pissed off that I chose this movie to watch with her because she believed that it wasn’t appropriate whatsoever. Anyway, as far as I was concerned, I thought it was definitely an intriguing and entertaining story. Some people criticized DiCaprio because his accent was not convincing but since I’m not familiar with the South African accent, it didn’t bother whatsoever and I thought he did a pretty good job here. For once, his character was a little bit different than what he usual does, a greedy bastard. Unfortunately, towards the end, this fellow really changed and showed us he actually had a heart. It might be nice and cozy for the mainstream audience but I thought it was too bad and it would take many years before DiCaprio would dare play an even darker character. Concerning Jennifer Connely, well, I think she was wasted playing your typical beautiful reporter and Djimon Hounson was actually the best of the three and if he would have been the main character, the damned thing could have been actually really great. Indeed, like so many similar movies, it dealt with some major issue in Africa by focusing on a white main character which is always a misguided approach. Finally, I forgot that this movie was actually quite long and I don’t think that such a straightforward story required such an extensive running time. Anyway, to conclude, even though I tend to think it is rather overrated, it is still a pretty good flick though and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realise... God left this place a long time ago."

Respectfully weaving a fictitious action-adventure narrative within a tumultuous nonfictional time and place is a daunting proposition for any filmmaker. 2006's Blood Diamond attempts such a premise, as its fictional story takes place during the real-life Sierra Leone Civil War. Fortunately, veteran filmmaker Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai) is more than capable of handling this material, skilfully breathing cinematic life into Charles Leavitt's ambitious, meticulously researched screenplay. More thoughtful than an average summer blockbuster, Blood Diamond is several things: an arresting action-adventure thriller, a searing indictment of corporate greed, and a history lesson that explores South Africa's unscrupulous diamond trade. Zwick nails all these things while maintaining interest through immaculate filmmaking and sublime performances.

In war-ravaged Sierra Leone, peaceful fisherman Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) lives with his family and hopes to keep them safe from the country's continuing conflicts. But when rebels tear Solomon's village apart, the father is forced away from his family and assigned to work in the diamond fields for a vicious warlord, Captain Poison (David Harewood). While mining a river, Solomon unearths an extremely valuable pink diamond and manages to bury it before government troops storm the area. Imprisoned in Freetown, Solomon gains the attention of Rhodesian ex-mercenary and gunrunner Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), who specialises in smuggling conflict diamonds. Hearing of Solomon's discovery, Archer bails the frightened father out of prison, hoping to use him to find the stone. With Danny promising to help Solomon find his family in exchange for the diamond, a hesitant partnership emerges. Into this mix soon steps American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), who is in the country conducting research for a story about the conflict diamond trade.

Blood Diamond clocks in at a hefty 135 minutes, but it doesn't feel too long, as there is enough momentum to maintain interest. As the story progresses and plot twists unfold, the movie draws us in deeper and deeper; we grow to care about Solomon and Archer and want to see the men succeed at their respective goals. Indeed, Blood Diamond is, at its core, a provocative human story. Miraculously, the film additionally explores the brutality of the conflict diamond trade with unflinching realism without the stench of exploitation, as such material serves to add compelling dramatic weight to the narrative. Plus, there's a level of complexity to the characters that make Blood Diamond more intelligent than your usual good guys vs. bad guys action flick. Once the end credits roll, it's virtually impossible to forget the harrowing images here, and viewers are left to think about the truth behind the shameful inner workings and secrets of the profitable diamond industry that are too often swept under the rug.

Produced for a sizable $100 million, Blood Diamond looks sublime. Zwick shot the film on location in Mozambique and other areas of Africa, affording a visceral, authentic atmosphere that is impossible to achieve on a sterile set or a crisp digital environment. Furthermore, Zwick is a superlative director, and his action sequences and shootouts are frequently exhilarating, such as a phenomenal large-scale battle at an R.U.F. camp involving a helicopter. Also worth noting is James Newton Howard's original score, which is full of flavoursome motifs that give compelling life to this story. It is also remarkable that a movie of such grand scope is bold enough to be R-rated, refusing to skimp on the harrowing details of the Sierra Leone Civil War. The violent depiction of everyday conflicts in Sierra Leone may seem exploitative, but the violence is never gratuitous; instead, Zwick merely avoids sugar-coating or sanitising the nasty details. The vivid sequences here of child soldiers being dehumanised through training and killing innocent people are not easy to forget. This type of stuff happens in reality, and Zwick seeks to highlight this fact, spreading awareness in the process.

With DiCaprio in his thirties here, his pretty-boy appearance is replaced with a face of ruggedness, wisdom and character, all traits that make him perfect for the role of Danny Archer. The role calls for DiCaprio to espouse a tricky area-specific Zimbabwean accent, and he nails it. You genuinely believe DiCaprio - he doesn't sound like an actor forcing an unnatural voice; he looks, sounds and feels like the real deal. Better yet, DiCaprio's intensity is spot-on. Indeed, he richly deserved the Oscar nomination he received for his performance. Alongside him, Djimon Hounsou (who also received an Oscar nomination) is earnest and convincing as Solomon Vandy. Hounsou brings his trademark intensity to the role, in addition to nobility and gravitas. Rounding out the leading players is Jennifer Connelly, who easily convinces as dedicated reporter Maddy Bowen, and a terrific Arnold Vosloo, who plays Archer's superior.

One of the best movies of 2006, Blood Diamond is enthralling and insightful big-budget action cinema. On top of its top-flight technical credits and magnificent acting, the film also possesses a sense of humanity. Indeed, it is hard to hold back tears during a late scene when Solomon is forced to confront his son, who was brainwashed by rebels, or when Archer tearfully calls Maddy to give her permission to finish her article. Blood Diamond is a film that successfully entertains as it educates, and it features one of Leonardo DiCaprio's greatest performances to date.

9.2/10

pardon the pun - Blood(y) brilliant. top film - I personally think this is the best film thus far for Dicaprio. Non stop action and gripping story.

As a South African I found Leo's accent atrocious. I usually think his acting is great =].. but this was sadly unconvincing.

Danny Archer: That diamond is my ticket out of this God forsaken continent.

After Danny Archer(Dicaprio) is caught smuggling Diamonds across the border he is sent to prison, where he overhears that a local fisherman names Solomon Vandy(Djimon Hounsou) has found a massive diamond, but he isn’t telling anyone where it is. Danny works the angle knowing Solomon wont know who to trust. Danny has ulterior motives, but all Solomon wants is to get his family back. While on the journey Danny reveals bits and pieces of his life story to Maddy Bowen (Connelly), but as the two connect, Danny and Solomon decide they must be the ones to go in and retrieve the Diamond before anyone else gets their hands on it.

Danny Archer: T.I.A. This is Africa.

I went into this film having seen Leo’s masterful performance in The Departed only two months earlier. I was hoping for the same kind of emotionally charged performance in this film. What I was left with was a completely different character. It is easy to understand his cynical viewpoints, but the one thing the audience does not get to understand about Archer is why he has shut himself off from showing just a little bit of compassion. We all can understand that living his life, he would become hardened and self sufficient, but the one thing we dont understand is why he would not want to help Solomon Vandy who is an innocent man. We see Archer through-out the film scheming and planning to get Vandy out of the picture so that he can cash in on something Vandy worked hard for. But as the film progresses and Archer connects with Maddy we see glimpses of a softer more vulnerable Danny Archer, and these are the scenes in which DiCaprio is able to fully utilize his talents. DiCaprio is so good because we aren’t sure if we want to believe anything Archer says but we can’t help but feel sorry for all that he has been through.

Maddy Bowen: The people back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand.

Then there are Solomon Vandy, a local man who is a fisherman just trying to right by his family, and Maddy Bowen an American Journalist who just wants the rest of the world to be aware of these issues. At first neither of them like Archer as he gives them no reason to feel anything but resentment towards him. Maddy sees right through his tough guy exterior and Solomon knows that he has no other choice but to work with Archer. Connelly and Hounsou feed off the energy and the emotion of DiCaprios finest performance in his career. Hounsou and Connelly play two innocent people caught up in an age old war.

Why is Blood Diamond such a good film, because it just doesn’t focus on Archer, Vandy and Bowen, but on the government, the child soldiers the slavery in which these people have been forced to partake in for many generations now. Blood Diamond is such an emotional film because they aren’t afraid to show you all the horrifying images that many people are afraid to look at. People can raise the argument that all three of these characters are fictional, but I will raise the counter argument that there are people out there just like Archer, just like Solomon and there are real children who are forced to fight for the revolution of which they want no part of. As the final screen tells us, without giving spoilers as to how the film finishes, there are still over 200,000 child soldiers in Africa.

Danny Archer: Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize... God left this place a long time ago.

Now you may not see this as the greatest film of all time like I do, or you may not see DiCaprios performance as one for the books, but if one image from this film stuck with you, whether it be the child soldiers, the refugee camps, the burning of villages or the men working in Camps day in and day out just to find diamonds so that wealthy people here in North America can buy each other presents then this film did what it was supposed to do.

Blood Diamond is the best film of 2006, and perhaps the best film I have ever seen, DiCaprio should have won best actor, Hounsou should have won best supporting actor. But most of all this film should have at least been up for best picture.

[to Maddy Bowen]
Danny Archer: You come here with your laptop computers, your malaria medicine and you little bottles of hand sanitizer and think you can change the outcome, huh

I'm going to start by saying that I felt this movie very deeply, partly
due to it's very powerful and emotional story, partly because of the
solid and strong performances of DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou which was
a good surprise.

This movie has a political side to it, the RUF (Revolutionary United
Front) is a violent group of rebels that kidnaps children, destroys
their innocence with drugs and alcohol transforming them into one of
the rebels themselves with a complete brainwash, while enslaving adults
to work on a diamond field. Diamonds those, that are used to fund their
war. However the main point of interest in this film, is the quest of a
fisherman (Djimon Hounsou), made slave by the RUF, to try and save his
son, who was kidnapped by RUF as well, when he is rescued by a diamond
smuggler (Leonardo Dicarpio) who is only interested in... diamonds.

The story becomes a painful journey for these men, each one using the
other to reach their own goal. It's interesting to see the evolution of
the relationship between them and the character development twists as
they become closer. Specially interesting to see is the inner conflicts
going on with DiCpario's character.

It becomes with no doubt an emotional ride within a violent and intense
story. I don't mean violent in a graphical way (the movie has some very
tough scenes though), but violent in the way the movie explores and
deals with the darkest and evilest sides of men's nature as well as
what despair and force of will can achieve.

If I was child living in the situation those African children were
living, I would look at the RUF and I would see the purest state of
fear and evil, so great of an evil that it could torture and twist you
to the point of destroying all the good and innocent in you and
transform you in fear itself. Now this is what this child is
experiencing and what this father is trying to stop at all costs...
heavy no? This movie is definitely worth to be seen, it's a human story
with a inhuman side to it, though not everyone will have an easy time
watching it. I watched this movie with my father (who is actually a
very sensitive person concerning movies and not-only) and he greatly
enjoyed the movie but had trouble watching some of the more powerful
scenes due to its incredible realism.

Great story, great drama, powerful performances and a beautiful
reporter as well (Jennifer Conneli, I forgot to mention you!). The best
movie of the genre I've watched, no-doubt.

''That's red earth. It's in our skin. The shona say the colour comes from all the blood that's being spilled fighting over the land. This is home. You will never leave Africa.''

A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen become entangled in a search for a priceless diamond which will change the fate of many.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Danny Archer

Djimon Hounsou: Solomon Vandy

Jennifer Connelly: Maddy Bowen

Blood Diamond(2006) is both great action entertainment and a searing indictment of the exploitation of the African continent even years after the imperial European powers left their colonial possessions to fend for themselves.
Africa; A continent wealthy in mineral resources with its peoples reduced to poverty at the mercy of tribal rivalries now armed with the automatic weapons of the former imperialists.
Powerful, political, and circumstances similar to this are still happening even to this day. Fine cast, superb story which is duly historic and modern, and also action packed and entertaining.
Shows how man can be so cruel to each other, and how greed can consume us of we let it. The bonds of Love, friendship and family are where the heart excels and Blood Diamond also shows us this.



Blood Diamond deserves to be watched by anyone whom will appreciate the intricate performances and bold, energetic storytelling. Not only is it an action thriller with amazing chases but there is importantly a message here about certain circumstances going on in a part of the world alot choose to ignore.
A powerful scene for me that Blood Diamond uses involves children being used as soldiers and militia; Showing how malleable and receptive like a newly acquired sponge soaking up brain washing propaganda form a militia out for blood, out to suck the land dry and promote despotism and fear among the civilians. Even having their own nicknames to promote their authority in a way that gives them power and strength.

Diredctor Edward Zwick whom also helmed the envisioned The Last Samurai has yet again crafted a tale that utilizes it's three stars and mixes entertainment with educational traits.
The music and score is vibrant, the locations breath taking. The diamond trade terrifying at the cost of innocent lives exploited.

Leonardo DiCaprio is on top form with an accent that is completely believable. Jennifer Connelly equally at home in her role with her peircing blue eyes. Djimon Hounsou really sells his anguish as a troubled father desperately trying to get his family back. Was also Quite taken with Arnold Vosloo's performance too.
By the title you guess that what people are after are diamonds which is a trade to be sure that has its international regulations. It also has people willing to skirt and ignore those regulations in pursuit of the almighty profit. The brokers be they in London, New York, or Amsterdam pay plenty of money under the table for the gems which then finance various revolutionary groups whom have this game going with the governments. They don't really want to take power as Leonardo DiCaprio explains to journalist Jennifer Connelly because then they'd have to govern the country. Better just to keep the revolution going, become payed off until the rulers become rich enough and just go into exile and the revolutionaries are then stuck with the power.

Blood Diamond was honoured with Oscar nominations for it's acting, for Sound, and for Film Editing. Sadly it did not win anything that year. It is also beyond belief it was not even considered for Best Picture.
Blood Diamond is a tale of a world older than our own, that you can watch again and again and still learn something from it. That has dozens of layers, deeply engrossing characters and a message in which the goodness left in humanity will sometimes out of rarity shine through.

''In America, it's bling bling. But out here it's bling bang.''

Kuten mainitsin Body Of Liesin arviossani, mikään ei yllätä samalla tavalla, kuin Leonardo DiCaprio.

Blood Diamond oli minulla pitkään "Want to watch"-listalla, kunnes lopulta sain sen katsottua. Ja kuinka olenkaan tyytyväinen, että elokuvan viimein katsoin! Afrikan timanttikaupan ruminta puolta ja näivertävää korruptiota esittelevä pätkä on paitsi viihdyttävä myös ajatuksia herättelevä.

Tarinat, joissa on tosi taustalla, ovat aina hippusen kiinnostavampia.

I will start by saying that this film was excellent. The diorama created by the News and Bob Geldoff's perpetual & insincere pressure to donate cash to Africa has been one that has gone on for years. The product of all of this has made people numb whenever the trouble in Africa rears it's head again and I am as guilty as the next man. It's all too easy to shrug off and ignore the reality.

Blood Diamond repaints the horrors and atrocities that modern day Africa is still suffering, it focuses on Sierra Leone's civil war and the languid efforts of the west to try and stop it. After being immersed in the mindless and merciless killings being carried out in the region on a daily basis the viewer is forced into the nauseating reality of what is going on and the flagrant disregard for human life.

This picture is painted no better than by the character of Solomon Vandy played by 'Djimon Hounsou'; an actor I had never heard of before the film. He lights up the screen with his performance, displaying every spectrum of human emotion amongst the cacophony of bombs and machine gun fire. To add to this spectacular performance Di Caprio does a great job with what must be one of the hardest accents to pull off and adds a third very decent film to his acting belt.

I'd recommend it to anyone, whether they want to see a great film, or simply if they want a subtle reminder about the desperateness of the situation in Africa without Bob Geldoff's face preaching to them. This film is Bloody moving, Bloody fast past and importantly Bloody good to watch eh?