Rent Blood Diamond on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Charles Leavitt (screenplay), Charles Leavitt and C. Gaby Mitchell (story)
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Michael Sheen, Ato Essandoh
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
Verdict
Few movies can weave action and drama into as story that has global relevance. The premise for this movie is conflict diamonds, and it's an issue where war torn countries use diamonds to fund wars. The concept broadly applies to any diamond mines generating human rights violations. While the story is predictable, the underlying themes and DiCaprio's performance elevate the movie as he searches for fortune by teaming with a father trying to save his son.
Watch It.
Review
Back when, this was the first movie I saw of DiCaprio's that I thought was really well acted. His performance is great, and I'd argue it's a turning point where he shed his teen heartthrob image.
The premise is diamonds mined in war zones. Insurgents in Sierra Leone's civil war force villages to toil in diamond mines to fund weapon purchases. Scenes juxtapose the grim conditions of the diamond mines while men in suits meet about the diamond trade, arguing over conflict diamonds and how great of a threat it really is. Solomon (Djimon Hounsou) is one of those villagers forced to work in the mines. He discovers a massive pink diamond, and even having seen what the insurgents do to those who steal, he hides it. What can he even do with it? How would he get away? Improbably, he does manage to confiscate it.
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| Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou play Danny Archer, Solomon Vandy |
Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an illegal arms dealer, selling to the insurgents for diamonds. He's part of the problem. He finds out about Solomon's diamond as they both end up in jail. Archer's boss also hears word of the massive diamond. The boss wants it as repayment for Archer's botched smuggling job. Archer wants it so he can retire.
There's the question of who gains and who is taking advantage. Archer is using Solomon to get to the diamond as they trek through insurgent occupied territory, promising to help find Solomon's family. They both benefit, but reporter Maddy (Jennifer Connelly) is using them both to get a story, though that story will bring light to the diamond trade. There's the larger overlay of the diamond industry taking advantage of impoverished countries. The industry buys diamonds then locks them up to increase demand, reduce supply, and drive up the price for consumers.
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| Leonardo DiCaprio plays Danny Archer |
On top of all this, this diamond industry is directly funding the insurgents and the child soldiers. We see how they condition kids to become killers. This is a movie that looks at a serious issue. It's easy enough to write this off as just an action movie, but there's a lot more to this and the industry at large.
Solomon risks his life to save his son. Archer is in this for the fortune and to save himself. At the end, Archer gets to have his big hero moment where he's selfless and saves the day. He's charismatic, but he's not a good guy until this moment. That's just movie magic, but this does make you think about the diamond industry and purchasing habits. Few movies speak to a broader issue while also being a solid action movie.
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