Blood Diamond Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 12.11.2006
This diamond sparkles and gleams as a satisfying epic adventure.
Leonardo Dicaprio: Danny Archer
Djimon Hounsou: Solomon Vandy
Jennifer Connelly: Maddy Bowen
Kagiso Kuypers: Dia Vandy
Arnold Vosloo: Colonel Coetzee
David Harewood: Captain Poison
Antony Coleman: Cordell Brown
Jimi Mistry: Nabil
Michael Sheen: Simmons
Stephen Collins: Ambassador Walker
Directed By: Edward Zwick
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Running Time: 138 minutes
Rated R for strong violence and language.
Blood Diamond is pure Edward Zwick adrenaline rushed drama, and it has much in common with his previous films (Glory, The Last Samurai, The Siege). I was thinking of three points that cause me to admire Zwick’s offerings. 1) His projects are always well structured, properly paced, and they skillfully balance action and drama. 2) The bulk of his resume, (not all, but most) are emotionally powerful to the point of inducing tears. 3) The storylines he operates with have been consistently challenging, while still maintaining intelligence, yet also being simple enough for all types of viewers to enjoy. Blood Diamond works on the majority of its levels as an epic adventure laced with romance.
The time is late 1990’s Sierra Leone where civil war is ongoing and constantly chaotic. The story starts with Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman with a wife and three kids, and Danny Archer (Leonardo Dicaprio), a smuggler whose sole desire is locating diamonds. The conflict is between the government and the rebels. Diamonds are a hot commodity, and they are being smuggled out and purchased on the open market. As Vandy is living his life comfortably, the rebels invade his village and either slaughter or capture every person who lives there. He is separated from his family. He is taken to work at the diamond mines, his son is forced to join the rebels as a child soldier, and his wife and daughters are on the run. During his slave work for the rebels, he discovers a 100 karat pink diamond that he buries in a secret area. Not long afterwards, he is thrown in jail by the government for being a suspected rebel. In prison, he crosses paths with Danny Archer, who also hears of this mysterious diamond. In exchange for the diamond, Archer will help Vandy find his family. The plan gets more complicated when Archer needs the assistance of journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) to complete the quest. She refuses to help until Archer spills the beans on how conflict diamonds are truthfully transported to the rest of the world.
The driving force behind many of Zwick’s films lies with the performances. For starters, Leonardo Dicaprio is transcendent and amazingly at ease as Danny Archer. There have been rumblings of Dicaprio earning two Oscar nominations this year. No complaints will be uttered from my corner of the world. This is slightly healthier as a whole than that of Billy Costigan in The Departed. He has room to stretch his legs here, and is not overshadowed by half a dozen other top notch actors. He is given more opportunities to shine, and one my favorite moments in the film are when he discusses whether or not God left the land of Africa a long time ago. From the trailer, Dicaprio’s accent seems exaggerated, but it rolls off the tongue brilliantly smooth as one watches from beginning to end.
The portrayal given by Djimon Hounsou will shake you to the core and rattle your bones with bewilderment. If it was possible to surpass his delightful role in In America, he has done so as Solomon Vandy. This is a man who will do anything to protect his family. The rage that is unleashed by his character is incredibly stirring. If he does not receive an Oscar nomination, there is something wrong with the world. Jennifer Connelly’s Maddy Bowen is a bit more complicated to analyze. She is a marvelous vision on screen, but she just barely convinces the audience that this part deserved to be her's. Maddy does not have enough screen time. I would not go as far as to say her character weakens the film, but it does not assist it either.
Normally I would not do this, but credit must be given to certain supporting cast members. I spent a great deal of time contemplating on who Colonel Coetzee was. It was on the tip of my tongue. That kind of frustration happens to all of us. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew full well that he had played someone memorable. His name is Arnold Vosloo, and he is more commonly known as the man who acted as “The Mummy” in both that movie and The Mummy Returns. He has proven to be both a talented and versatile actor now. My vote for next Bond villain along side Daniel Craig is Arnold Vosloo. Also, I must mention the names of two characters. Captain Poison and Captain Rambo. These names stand out definitely, and the men are almost cartoonish, but it adds a smidgen of necessary humor.
Blood Diamond positively uses a social commentary with its storyline, but in a way that doesn’t relentlessly hammer the message, nor conveys it as too subtle. The problem rests with the tangent the plot goes on in the middle. Let’s break apart the title for a second. One section deals with diamonds. That’s obvious. The other section centers on blood, or more specifically, the blood that was spilled repeatedly on African soil. This portion was moving, but just as moving as The Constant Gardener, Catch A Fire, etc. It was inevitable that sequences such as that would be in the film to some regard, but it appeared as if the direction shifted from diamonds to governmental turmoil too abruptly. Towards the conclusion (which was spectacular), diamonds again were the focus, and it was masterful. On a side note, much of what you learn about diamonds is true. The characters, however, are fictitious.
One could argue that Blood Diamond is an escapist popcorn flick, but even if that is true, it still offers both critics and casual moviegoers a theme that anyone can connect to effortlessly. Director Edward Zwick’s camera captures the essence of the action with violent and disturbing images. Gazing at the group of little boys who are firing machine guns into a crowd of innocent people will leave you speechless. Zwick and screenwriter Charles Leavitt never lecture us, or attempt to persuade us. They merely inform the viewers to the situation with slick movements. Zwick’s film has an antiquated aura and a nostalgic smell. Dicaprio resembles a hero from the 1950’s in the way he carries himself (and his cigarettes), and the adventure would have slipped perfectly into that time period.
Blood Diamond is not Edward Zwick’s best achievement, but it ranks among his top 3 I’d say. He is a special type of filmmaker. He is one that crafts his jewels so absolutely anyone can find aspects to adore. The scope of his locations is alluring, and his suspense is genuine. Edward Zwick is gradually growing into top filmmaker, and the provocatively edifying and enriching Blood Diamond is proof.
The 411: A lot of decent movies are out for the Christmas holiday. This is one of them. Do not let it pass you by. Leonardo Dicaprio and Djimon Hounsou give some of the best performances of the year, and the storyline is persistently mesmerizing through the entire running time. It is over two hours, but do not let that affect your decision. The time flies by because of the splendid direction by Edward Zwick. Blood Diamond is not flawless, but it is a film that is sure to grow better with age.
