Leave it to Leonardo DiCaprio to a movie that is as equally entertaining as it is morally impactful. Blood Diamond is a story set in the chaos and misery of the civil war that covered 1990’s Sierra Leone. It focuses on Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe, and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman with a wife and four children. Solomon has been taken from his family and home by the rebels and forced to work the diamond fields when he finds a very rare, very large pink diamond and he decides to hide it even knowing it may cost him his life because he also knows it may be his only means to save his life and the lives of his family. Archer who has spent his life trading diamonds for armed weapons hears of Solomon’s diamond while serving time in prison with him. He will do whatever it takes to get the diamond from Solomon because it will be a payoff that will get him out of his brutal life of corruption. Then enters Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American Journalist working to uncover the truth behind conflict diamonds and wanting to expose the diamond industries leaders. She knows Archer can do this for her, but Archer may find he needs Maddy more then she needs him. This becomes a game of push and shove Archer needs Maddy’s name to get him from place to place unseen, Maddy needs Archer for her story, Archer needs Solomon to help him recover the diamond and Solomon needs Archer to help him rescue is son from the rebels who brainwashing him into a child solider. This movie is extraordinary, director Edward Zwick has out done himself this time. It is a moving and emotional work of art that also holds an incredibly powerful political statement. Leonardo DiCaprio gives the performance of his career. Every time I think he has reached his peak he takes it one step further. He is nominated for a Golden Globe (against himself in The Departed I might add). The Golden Globes air Monday night, I truly hope he walks away with the Globe; it was the best male performance this year as far as I am concerned. Djimon Hounsou is exquisite and Jennifer Connelly is lovely and powerful. Blood Diamond is offered in MoPix and I do strongly recommend it since there is a lot going on and a lot of action you won’t want to miss a second of this film. Superb.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Michael Sheen, Arnold Vosloo, David Harewood, Basil Wallace and introducing Kagiso Kuyp Dia
