All That Glitters Isn't All That Pretty

The often tough-to-watch-yet-beautifully-shot Blood Diamond, set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990s Sierra Leone, finds Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, and Solomon Vandy (In America's Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman, joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that could transform their lives.

While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon – who has been taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields, and consequently thought a rebel and captured – has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone.

With the help of Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist whose idealism is tempered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory – a journey that could save Solomon's family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have.

Blood Diamond is as effective an action thriller as it is a message-movie about the horrific realities that have tarnished the African landscape in recent years – something that most of us have very little understanding of due to a lack of active political intervention from established governments and, yes, news reporting.

It does not, however, pack the emotional wallop that, say, Hotel Rwanda did because it wants us to follow the adventure that Archer and Solomon have taken on – the message is just gravy.

It's a great bonus that Hounsou is on screen to raise the humanity of Blood Diamond, to make us root for him, to tug at our hearts. DiCaprio's character has already been lost (plus, the actor can't stick to one accent for the entirety of the movie), but not Hounsou's – and he's the reason the movie ultimately works...not as a cheap guilt trip but an important awakening (that also entertains).

Photo: Warner Bros.

My Rating ***