Blood Diamond (2006)
Blood Diamond (2006)
There are the 4 Cs to buying a diamond rule and I used a parallel and inherently similar rule in deciding if I wanted to “buy” this “diamond”.
Cast, credits (writing, directing), cinematography, and cost (monetary and time) helped me decide whether this would be a film even worth giving a glance, and Blood Diamond easily passed the initial scrutiny.
Blood Diamond is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone, and tells the story of Danny Archer, quite brilliantly depicted by Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe, and Solomon Vandy, also rather superbly portrayed by Mr. Djimon Hounsou, as a Mende fisherman. Though both men share an ancestral continent, their histories are as different as can be, that is until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives. While locked up in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon - who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields - has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen, played by Ms. Jennifer Connelly, an American journalist whose idealism is bordered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two gentlemen embark on a trek through rebel territory to make a journey that could save Solomon's family and fulfill Archer’s vested interest.
Starting with the first ‘C’, Blood Diamond notches top marks for cast. Mr. DiCaprio has certainly evolved as one of Hollywood’s underrated, somewhat over-hyped performers and it’s shocking to think of the variety of projects this actor has been associated with. From doing television shows such as Growing Pains (1991-92) and Santa Barbara (1984), to films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Romeo and Juliet (1996), the immortal Titanic (1997), to some of his more recent and certainly mature and worth seeing performances in The Man In The Iron Mask (1998), Gangs Of New York (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002) right up to The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006), here is a guy who has shown tremendous versatility and command of adapting to nearly any and any role possible. It will be interesting to see him play Theodore Roosevelt in Mr. Martin Scorsese’s 2008 bio-epic. Mr. DiCaprio portrays to near perfection his “Rhodesian” character, his dialogue delivery, accent, appearance and swagger are natural and though he has his filmy moments in Blood Diamond, overall you tend to relate to and root for his character.
If Mr. DiCaprio’s evolution paints a picture then Mr. Hounsou’s is an art gallery! Starting as an extra in the TV series Beverly Hills 90210 (1990) to appearing in blockbusters such as Amistad (1997) and The Gladiator (2000), this performer has grown leaps and bounds in the industry and his talent is on fine display in Blood Diamond. His emotions, down to every bead of sweat that drips from his determined face, and the forlorn expressed when he sees his son wielding a gun, are refined and spontaneous. It is evident that here is an actor who makes a director’s job extremely easy. The chemistry between the main protagonists is coherent and essential to the film’s progress and unintentionally represents the backbone behind the main plot.
The trilogy of the main cast is completed by the extremely talented Ms. Connelly whose Maddy Bowen exhibits possibly the most depth of the characters the viewers are exposed to. Though her role is peripheral and somewhat limited, Ms. Connelly takes her script and evokes an array of emotions from co-stars and viewers alike. Ms. Connelly, most noted for her roles in A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Hulk (2003), can add Blood Diamond to one of her better performances.
Directing credits are largely impressive as Mr. Edward Zwick is a gentleman of no small stature. Oscar winner for producing Shakespeare in Love in 1999, he has given us in the past such intriguing prospects as Glory (1989), Legends Of The Fall (1994) and The Last Samurai (2003), and with Blood Diamond he again delivers a good mix of action, mystery, drama, and deeper intellectual content. Unfortunately though Mr. Zwick’s editing team did leave a bit to be desired and the pre-climax/ climax could have done with some chopping. Some might say the actual introduction and development of the story was tedious and drew a lot of energy out of the viewer but one has to remember the story line and subject were not the easiest of fares and some time was inevitable in bringing the main course to the table. Mr. Charles Leavitt, better known for writing credits in K-Pax (2001), is commendable in scripting a sensitive subject.
Cinematography by Mr. Eduardo Serra is of the highest caliber. The former BAFTA award winner makes the viewing adventure rather realistic, be it the forest or the streets, there is no doubt that the viewer at times feels realistically immersed in the ongoing events unfolding on screen.
This movie is not for the faint of heart and at times the action can be rather disturbing, realistic and sudden and one has to be mindful of such. Seeing harsh realities can be a turn-off and many might feel a bit sick somewhere in the first 20-25 minutes, but credit to the director and cinematographer for being bold enough to portray such happenings as genuinely as they have. Perhaps a bit overboard I can concur with that statement but it was essential to portray the gravity of the entire theme. The only critique with that may have been the lack of mirroring gravity in the second half and towards the end of the viewing experience.
Time-wise and money-wise I think Blood Diamond is definitely worth a look-see, though some of the clichés presented, especially at the end, will leave the viewer not as attached to the characters and the cause as they would have been ¾ into the film. As much a fan I am of the cinematic experience, I think waiting for this one on DVD might actually be more practical.
As great an effort this was by the cast and production team, I still do not see it making a significant impact on the mentality and actions of individuals before they purchase a diamond, and if that was a benchmark that the film was trying to use to gauge its success then it may not necessarily be deemed one, but I think overall the film does increase awareness and raise some pertinent questions and asks us to introspect and debate and dabble further on the whole issue of whether you know where the rock on your finger has come from.
There are the 4 Cs to buying a diamond rule and I used a parallel and inherently similar rule in deciding if I wanted to “buy” this “diamond”.
Cast, credits (writing, directing), cinematography, and cost (monetary and time) helped me decide whether this would be a film even worth giving a glance, and Blood Diamond easily passed the initial scrutiny.
Blood Diamond is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone, and tells the story of Danny Archer, quite brilliantly depicted by Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe, and Solomon Vandy, also rather superbly portrayed by Mr. Djimon Hounsou, as a Mende fisherman. Though both men share an ancestral continent, their histories are as different as can be, that is until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives. While locked up in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon - who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields - has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen, played by Ms. Jennifer Connelly, an American journalist whose idealism is bordered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two gentlemen embark on a trek through rebel territory to make a journey that could save Solomon's family and fulfill Archer’s vested interest.
Starting with the first ‘C’, Blood Diamond notches top marks for cast. Mr. DiCaprio has certainly evolved as one of Hollywood’s underrated, somewhat over-hyped performers and it’s shocking to think of the variety of projects this actor has been associated with. From doing television shows such as Growing Pains (1991-92) and Santa Barbara (1984), to films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Romeo and Juliet (1996), the immortal Titanic (1997), to some of his more recent and certainly mature and worth seeing performances in The Man In The Iron Mask (1998), Gangs Of New York (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002) right up to The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006), here is a guy who has shown tremendous versatility and command of adapting to nearly any and any role possible. It will be interesting to see him play Theodore Roosevelt in Mr. Martin Scorsese’s 2008 bio-epic. Mr. DiCaprio portrays to near perfection his “Rhodesian” character, his dialogue delivery, accent, appearance and swagger are natural and though he has his filmy moments in Blood Diamond, overall you tend to relate to and root for his character.
If Mr. DiCaprio’s evolution paints a picture then Mr. Hounsou’s is an art gallery! Starting as an extra in the TV series Beverly Hills 90210 (1990) to appearing in blockbusters such as Amistad (1997) and The Gladiator (2000), this performer has grown leaps and bounds in the industry and his talent is on fine display in Blood Diamond. His emotions, down to every bead of sweat that drips from his determined face, and the forlorn expressed when he sees his son wielding a gun, are refined and spontaneous. It is evident that here is an actor who makes a director’s job extremely easy. The chemistry between the main protagonists is coherent and essential to the film’s progress and unintentionally represents the backbone behind the main plot.
The trilogy of the main cast is completed by the extremely talented Ms. Connelly whose Maddy Bowen exhibits possibly the most depth of the characters the viewers are exposed to. Though her role is peripheral and somewhat limited, Ms. Connelly takes her script and evokes an array of emotions from co-stars and viewers alike. Ms. Connelly, most noted for her roles in A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Hulk (2003), can add Blood Diamond to one of her better performances.
Directing credits are largely impressive as Mr. Edward Zwick is a gentleman of no small stature. Oscar winner for producing Shakespeare in Love in 1999, he has given us in the past such intriguing prospects as Glory (1989), Legends Of The Fall (1994) and The Last Samurai (2003), and with Blood Diamond he again delivers a good mix of action, mystery, drama, and deeper intellectual content. Unfortunately though Mr. Zwick’s editing team did leave a bit to be desired and the pre-climax/ climax could have done with some chopping. Some might say the actual introduction and development of the story was tedious and drew a lot of energy out of the viewer but one has to remember the story line and subject were not the easiest of fares and some time was inevitable in bringing the main course to the table. Mr. Charles Leavitt, better known for writing credits in K-Pax (2001), is commendable in scripting a sensitive subject.
Cinematography by Mr. Eduardo Serra is of the highest caliber. The former BAFTA award winner makes the viewing adventure rather realistic, be it the forest or the streets, there is no doubt that the viewer at times feels realistically immersed in the ongoing events unfolding on screen.
This movie is not for the faint of heart and at times the action can be rather disturbing, realistic and sudden and one has to be mindful of such. Seeing harsh realities can be a turn-off and many might feel a bit sick somewhere in the first 20-25 minutes, but credit to the director and cinematographer for being bold enough to portray such happenings as genuinely as they have. Perhaps a bit overboard I can concur with that statement but it was essential to portray the gravity of the entire theme. The only critique with that may have been the lack of mirroring gravity in the second half and towards the end of the viewing experience.
Time-wise and money-wise I think Blood Diamond is definitely worth a look-see, though some of the clichés presented, especially at the end, will leave the viewer not as attached to the characters and the cause as they would have been ¾ into the film. As much a fan I am of the cinematic experience, I think waiting for this one on DVD might actually be more practical.
As great an effort this was by the cast and production team, I still do not see it making a significant impact on the mentality and actions of individuals before they purchase a diamond, and if that was a benchmark that the film was trying to use to gauge its success then it may not necessarily be deemed one, but I think overall the film does increase awareness and raise some pertinent questions and asks us to introspect and debate and dabble further on the whole issue of whether you know where the rock on your finger has come from.
posted by SIAII at 7:18 PM
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