Blood Diamond for Download (2006)

Most Over-Rated Film of the Year

XXX from Wolverhampton [Highly rated reviewer] , 29/10/2007

So many gushing reviews, such an important subject, and what a godawful movie.

As others have remarked, Leo - whatever his acting skill, and whatever the accent - is completely miscast as a battle-hardened African mercenary. And Jennifer Connelly is every bit as unconvincing and out of place playing a tough magazine journalist.

The script is pure Hollywood. We've seen the structure a thousand times before. When Leo portentously says, 'This is Eff-rica,' early in the film, we all know we're going to hear that line again. And when Arnold Vosloo scoops up a handful of dirt and waxes poetic, you can hear the pay-off coming even with the sound turned down.

And this film is looooonng. When Leo and the Noble Savage start their journey into the heart of Sierra Leone, it feels like it's being shot in real time.

There are some positives. The big-buget pyrotechnics are cool (Hollywood does that sh*t well). And David Harewood leaves nothing behind as the psycho rebel leader.

But however worthy the subject matter, this a predictable and over-praised piece of Tinseltown pap.

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Don't miss this one

A customer from London, England , 31/12/2006

Blood Diamond is set in Sierra Leone in 1999 where Rhodesian-born Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) smuggles diamonds out of the country and sells them on to the diamond merchants. Sierre Leone is in the middle of a bloody civil war and the sale of the diamonds, known as ‘conflict diamonds’ raises money for weapons and thus supports the violent war. Djimon Hounsou is remarkable as Solomon Vandy, the fisherman whose life is turned upside down when his family are torn away from him, his son is taken by the rebels to be trained as a child killer, and he is forced to work in a diamond mine where he unearths a rare pink diamond. When the mine is attacked, he buries the diamond. DiCaprio hears of its existence and sets off with Hounsou to recover it and split the proceeds. DiCaprio’s motives are at first purely financial whereas Hounsou’s objective is to find and reunite his family. The story is gripping, the characters are strong, and Leonardo DiCaprio gives a tremendous performance as the mercenary who reveals a compassionate side. The film was shot in Sierra Leone, Mozambique and South Africa and everyone, particularly the children, gives such convincing performances it is easy to forget they are acting. Very highly recommended.

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Fantastic film. Don't get hung up on the accent

Saffron from Surrey, England , 07/02/2007

This is a truly gripping and intense story about the horrors surrounding the 'conflict' diamonds of Sierra Leone during the civil war. The scenes involving the child soldiers are at times so intense it was hard to continue watching. No real need to describe the story line as others have already done this so well. Also pointed out is DiCaprio's not so perfect accent. But please don't get hung up on the accent thing. This film is amazing and it should be seen by all.

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The brilliant Di Caprio at his very best.

younglochinvar from Prestatyn [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/09/2007

Take Leonardo Di Caprio out of the Titanic equation and what are you left with? Yeah, right.

What makes this film so very good, as well as Ed Zwicks sense of direction, wonderful scenery and a very good screenplay, is the fact that Di Caprio gets excellent support from the rest of the cast. Something not always apparent in films such as Titanic and even The Departed (when you consider the talent on dislay).

Djimon Housoun is outstanding with his heart-rending portrayal of Mende fisherman Solomon Vandy. Jennifer Connelly's character, idealistic journalist Maddie Bowen, undergoes a particularly subtle metamorphosis.

For all those (and there are very many) who criticised Di Caprio's South African accent, he is playing the part of a Zimbabwean mercenary and his accent is ver good indeed.

Oh to be a 'fly on the wall' at the various premieres attended by the usual vacuous subjects dripping in diamonds! Sleep well.

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brilliant

kerfy from Peterborough , 07/08/2008

Really enjoyed this film. Was far better than I expected it to be. Defo worth watching this one.

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Awfully funny accent

A customer from Dilwyn , 12/08/2008

Just could not get over DiCaprio attempting to beef up and do a south african accent, just too weird.

Story pretty good providing some social commentary on how western 'bling' causes chaos and anarchy in the great dark continent.

If you are lucky enough to be able to afford diamonds you should perhaps watch this film before you buy.

If you want more of the African vibe watch this one back to back with the Last King of Scotland for an insight to the apparently intractable problems of the continent.

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