The problem with "Blood Diamond" is that it tries to tell an important and powerful story and even tries to make a statement but it does this too much in an Hollywood kind of way, with over-the-top and far from believable dramatic plot lines, of course a misplaced love-story, lots of action and a happy Hollywood ending. Had the movie been done more in a "Syriana", so to speak, kind of style, the movie without doubt would had been better, more powerful and definitely more realistic. No doubt that the movie would then have been one of the year's best.
"Blood Diamond" is a movie about a true and also still relevant subject about the lust for diamonds and the power struggles and fighting it takes with them over the diamonds in African countries, in this case Sierra Leone. The common African person is being the victim of it all and they're actually being enslaved to work in diamond fields and mines or to join the rebel, fighting the government over control of the diamond business. This is already a good, powerful and effective premise on its own, so it really is to bad that the movie feels the need to put in sentimental, personal plot lines and lots of action sequences, while it should had focused more on the bigger picture.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a good main lead for this movie and he adds another good role to his impressive list. Much talk will be made of DiCaprio's accent, but it is pretty solid most of the time and only fades out in a few scenes. He is amply rewarding the faith that early directors like James Cameron and Woody Allen expressed in him at a time when the public viewed him as just a pretty face. Djimon Hounsou is also good in his role, but I still think that he should stop playing roles like this. Ever since his "Amistad" he's been typecast over and over again, with this movie forming no exception to that. He's a great actor that truly should concentrate more on more different serious, carrying roles. Only the beautiful Jennifer Connelly is woefully miscast. She is at her best in expressing the subtly ambiguous, restrained feelings she develops for DiCaprio's character, but her portrayal of a hardbitten reporter that does it alone in Afghanistan and darkest Africa comes less easily.
The movie is definitely well made in terms of its style and the way the sequences are built up and constructed. The movie still shows that Edward Zwick is a great director, who should have just chosen a different approach with this story.
But you just can't rate the movie negative. It's too professionally made. Especially the action sequences know to impress. It's all good looking, with some good camera-work and good looking landscapes and environment. It definitely helps that the movie was shot mostly on location in Africa.
"Blood Diamond" is ultimately one of those movies that is greater to talk about than actually think through. It has some fine performances and a compelling story that gives much food for thought, but isn't as well executed as it should be. Like all Zwick films, it has a brain and a keen eye, but its heart seems strangely insincere. A missed opportunity.
"Blood Diamond" is a movie about a true and also still relevant subject about the lust for diamonds and the power struggles and fighting it takes with them over the diamonds in African countries, in this case Sierra Leone. The common African person is being the victim of it all and they're actually being enslaved to work in diamond fields and mines or to join the rebel, fighting the government over control of the diamond business. This is already a good, powerful and effective premise on its own, so it really is to bad that the movie feels the need to put in sentimental, personal plot lines and lots of action sequences, while it should had focused more on the bigger picture.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a good main lead for this movie and he adds another good role to his impressive list. Much talk will be made of DiCaprio's accent, but it is pretty solid most of the time and only fades out in a few scenes. He is amply rewarding the faith that early directors like James Cameron and Woody Allen expressed in him at a time when the public viewed him as just a pretty face. Djimon Hounsou is also good in his role, but I still think that he should stop playing roles like this. Ever since his "Amistad" he's been typecast over and over again, with this movie forming no exception to that. He's a great actor that truly should concentrate more on more different serious, carrying roles. Only the beautiful Jennifer Connelly is woefully miscast. She is at her best in expressing the subtly ambiguous, restrained feelings she develops for DiCaprio's character, but her portrayal of a hardbitten reporter that does it alone in Afghanistan and darkest Africa comes less easily.
The movie is definitely well made in terms of its style and the way the sequences are built up and constructed. The movie still shows that Edward Zwick is a great director, who should have just chosen a different approach with this story.
But you just can't rate the movie negative. It's too professionally made. Especially the action sequences know to impress. It's all good looking, with some good camera-work and good looking landscapes and environment. It definitely helps that the movie was shot mostly on location in Africa.
"Blood Diamond" is ultimately one of those movies that is greater to talk about than actually think through. It has some fine performances and a compelling story that gives much food for thought, but isn't as well executed as it should be. Like all Zwick films, it has a brain and a keen eye, but its heart seems strangely insincere. A missed opportunity.
Rating: 7.0 / 10
1 comment:
I think it deserves more than a 7 rating. I liked it. Although i thought it was a bit too long and gory.
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