Blood Diamond (2006)

A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.

Jess' Review

Blood Diamond takes place during the Sierra Leone civil war in 1999; and is tasked with depicting this intense, historic event with control and sensitivity, whilst also telling the fictional story of mercenary, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio). Director Edward Zwick nails this balancing act with great skill, using a fantastic leading ensemble of DiCaprio, Dijimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connolly to depict a gripping tale of greed and redemption.

The film is powerful, often uncomfortable to watch at times and captures a gritty realism in its scenes of warfare. Having known nothing of Sierra Leone’s murky diamond-trade industry and ensuing war, I was shocked and disquieted by what I was seeing. Zwick presents both the chaos and devastating losses of war with great care, whilst it would otherwise be easy to sacrifice this accuracy in favour of more action or a corny, feel-good factor. I respect this, and feel it adds to the authenticity of the characters’ journeys.

DiCaprio is brilliant as ever. He nails the South African accent (unlike Sam and I, despite our best efforts), with his character proving likeable even with his questionable ethics. Hounsou also gives a strong performance as tortured father, Solomon. His scenes are raw with emotion, and when the two are paired we see a captivating chemistry unfold. Connolly, though quite sidelined and more cliche in her development, also puts in a solid performance.

There are some wonderful, sweeping shots of the Sierra Leona wilderness, yet more poignant are those of the war-torn villages and refugee camps. It’s an emotionally-charged story, that horrifies the audience as much as it takes us on a journey of redemption and hope. The arc is a little predictable, but enjoyable and grimly enthralling nevertheless.

For me, Blood Diamond was a great watch with little to critique. It raises questions of human morale and ethics, stays faithful to the time period and offers passionate performances of emotionally complex characters. And yet, I didn’t think it was completely spectacular. I wasn’t totally blown away, despite its craftsmanship. And whilst there’s no doubt I enjoyed it, Blood Diamond falls just short based purely on personal preference. For me, it’s just good for a one-time watch, easy to follow and powerful, though I would imagine less impactful on repeat viewings.

Sorry Leo.

7.5/10

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Sam's Review

The film is predictable, which in and of itself is predictable as it's a big budget Hollywood production. Yet, even though I know where it's headed, I still find myself enjoying the ride. It's led by two solid performances. Leonardo DiCaprio's accent was a highlight for me, as was his intensity in his pursuit of the diamond, which had me enthralled. The passion that embodied Djimon Hounsou's performance as a father desperately searching for his son was rousing. The pace moves quickly, keeping me intrigued throughout. And the action is intense, with it displaying the violence of war in a tasteful, yet forthright manner.

Themes of war and ethics are prevalent, and handled with grace. The tortured brainwashing of child soldiers to the impact that the blood diamond trade has on entire countries is potent, and at times raw. While it is depicted well, I worry that it lacks weight enough to have a significant impact. But, viewed in the light of simple entertainment it's compelling. Visually, the shots of Sierra Leone are stunning. Capturing the serenity of the country's nature, which conflicts with the harsh subject matter.

My biggest critique is the white saviour role DiCaprio's Danny Archer plays to Hounsou's Solomon Vandy. Perhaps I am being overly critical. And, I certainly enjoyed the film. However, racism seems to simmer beneath the surface of Archer, and too often it feels like a master/servant dynamic is portrayed. Which is fine to display if we're going to be shown that it's wrong, yet, Archer is the lovable rogue who the film has positioned as it's hero.

It certainly asks a lot of questions, though doesn't always execute on the answers. Nevertheless, it's worth a watch. The acting is sublime, especially Hounsou who shines, the story is gripping, and the action doesn't stop. And, if you manage learn something along the way, so much the better.

7/10