Blood Diamond

Edward Zwick's Blood Diamond presents a matter of contemporary concern—the exploitation of Africa by Western powers—in the form of an action-adventure film featuring a colorful rogue, the honorable local fisherman who becomes his ticket to wealth, and a beautiful journalist drawn to the adventurer despite his checkered past. Set in civil war-torn Sierra Leone, circa 1999, the film stars Oscar-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny, a young man in the employ of a British diamond firm, who smuggles gems—mined by laborers enslaved by brutal anti-government guerrillas—into a neighboring country (a vicious cycle that results in more money for more guns for more murderous rebels—hence the film's title). Danny learns of a large stone hidden by Solomon (Oscar-nominee Djimon Hounsou), a villager pressed into service by the guerrillas, whose beloved young son was taken off to be brainwashed into becoming a “child soldier.” Seeing the diamond as his meal ticket out of Africa, Danny promises to reunite Solomon with his family in trade for the diamond, and in order to finagle their way into the war zone where it's buried, Danny employs his charms on an American reporter (Jennifer Connelly). Naturally, Danny's venality gradually turns redemptive, his gruffness towards Solomon is transformed into brotherhood, and he'll abandon his own dreams—and more—to find the boy. Blood Diamond is laden with good intentions, which are unfortunately offset by obvious preaching and somewhat flabby storytelling. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, or a two-disc widescreen version, DVD extras on the two-disc special edition include audio commentary by director Edward Zwick, a 50-minute “Blood on the Stone” documentary on the evolution of a diamond, “Inside the Siege of Freetown” commentary from Zwick on a pivotal scene (11 min.), “Becoming Archer: Profiling Leonardo DiCaprio” (9 min.), “Journalism on the Front Line: Jennifer Connelly on Woman Journalists at War” (5 min.), the music video “Shine on ‘Em” by Nas, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a somewhat flabby message movie.] (F. Swietek)