|
BLOOD DIAMOND Send This Review to a Friend
An old-fashioned action film has been directed by Edward Zwick, but twists and turns in the screenplay by Charles Leavitt from a story by him and C. Gaby Mitchell are more entertaining than believable. The mad quest for diamonds in the 1990’s civil war raging in Sierra Leone is credible, as is the depiction of diamonds being used to finance arms. But given the circumstances, the leading characters in the film would be killed ten times over long before the climax.
However, if you keep that in mind, the cast, vigorous action and suspense make the film engrossing despite the excesses and contrivances. Leonardo DiCaprio is effective as Danny, a former mercenary from Zimbabwe who is determined to hunt down a diamond that has been hidden by Solomon, impressively portrayed by Djimon Hounsou, before he managed to escape the first of brushes with death.
Jennifer Connelly is Maddy, an enterprising journalist who is trying to nail a big story about the diamond dealings and the machinations involved. Naturally, there is an attraction between Maddy and Danny, who become jointly involved in the adventures that are piled on. We also see the horror of children being kidnapped by rebels and brainwashed into become killers.
Danger, race and greed are involved in various ways, and there is a question of who will have the last word. “Blood Diamond” makes room for some sentiment, but not a lot of it, in what is basically a fast-paced action film with abundant ambiance and an element of star charisma. A Warner Brothers Pictures release.
|