Feb 02, 2007 11:00 PM
3297 Views
Director– Edward Zick
Screenplay – Charles Leavitt and C Gaby Mitchell
History
Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D’ivorie, Democratic Republic Of Congo and Republic of Congo. What do these countries have in common besides being poor African countries and former Belgium and French Colonies ? They produce at least 15-20 % of the diamonds. Being a muti billion dollar industry, ideally speaking, the African countries mentioned and her people should have benefited. But the world diamond council has put a ban on these countries for selling diamonds. Main reason being that they are blood diamonds. What are Blood Diamonds ? Any Diamond produced by countries or organizations which are used to fund war are termed as Blood Diamonds. The areas from where these diamonds come are called conflict zones. Morally and Legally, we shouldn’t be buying diamonds where the authentication is not done by the world diamond council. But in this day of corruption, what is the guarantee that WDC would not cheat people who invest in diamonds ?
Plot
Danny Archer(Leonardo Di Caprio) is a small time Zimbabwean, who wants to make big in Diamond Smuggling. Solomon Vandy(Djimon Hounsou) is a tribal fisherman who only wants his wife and children to lead a good life and has an ambition to see his son become a doctor. But fate has something different in store for them. Sierra Leone, where Solomon stays, is in midst of a civil war. The Rebels have captured most of the villages and Solomon is taken as a slave in a diamond field. Solomon finds a big pink diamond and he hides it while working one day. This is found out by one of the rebel who, in process of capturing him, gets injured in a surprise cross fire attack by the government troops. Solomon Hides the diamond but before he could escape, he is taken in to the capital city as a prisoner thinking he is one of the rebel. There he meets Danny who is also imprisoned for diamond smuggling. Archer learns that he will make millions selling the diamond, Solomon has hidden and makes a deal with him. The deal is that he has to part with the diamond in exchange for freedom and chance to reunite with his family, They are aided by an American Journalist, Maddy Bowen(Jennifer Connelly). The entire movie revolves around how they manage to go to the place where the diamond is hidden and have to face many turbulences. From the outside and inside.
Critic’s Comments
Although clichéd in parts, this is a very good movie that takes a look at a very serious part of the world we thought never existed. Leonardo Di Caprio has acted well, but I don’t think he was as good as he was in The Departed but the academy awards judges have thought otherwise and have nominated him for the Best Actor Award. Djimon Hounsou is brilliant. He is one actor who lets his eyes do all the talking. He has to win the best supporting actor oscar this year and the only competition he would have is from Mark Wahlberg for The Departed. Jennifer Connelly has acted well in her part. The Direction is good along with the script. The Action scenes are commendable and the nearly 2 and a half hour length is not felt due to crisp editing by Steven Rosenblum. A must watch movie.
Psst -
1) Russel Crowe was considered for the role of Danny Archer
2) The photographer who had a conflict with Leonardo Di Caprio is a popular Indian TV Actor, Gaurav Kapoor.
3) The diamond trading houses in Bombay wanted to ban the release of the movie due to scenes depicting India promoting diamonds from conflict zones.
4) You need to go to this site guys - https://realdiamondfacts.org/ *
Quotes
1) “In America, it's bling bling. But out here it's bling bang.”
2) “I like to get kissed before I get fuc.”
3) “I'm clean, no HIV; Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”
4) “That diamond is my ticket out of this God foresaken continent.”
5) “Sometimes I wonder if God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other, than I look around and I realize, god left this place a long time ago.”
6) “He is my son. I am his father. I must go find him. Go ahead, shoot me if you want, but I will go find him.”
7) “The Third World is not a world apart... and the witness you will hear today speaks on its behalf. Let us hear that voice. Let us learn from it.and let us ignore it no more. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Solomon Vandy.”
Oops-
Didn’t see any goofs.
