Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have built a legacy as lasting as Jennifer Connelly. Since her rise to recognition in the 1980’s, Connelly has become a beloved feminist icon. Whether it’s bold drug users, wives of mathematicians or diamond smuggler, Connelly has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Connelly’s greatest strength as an actress has become her commitment. She’s one of those actresses that has always poured her heart and soul into every single role. Shining a bright light in pitch black darkness, Connelly has become a strong icon in the entertainment business. Through an ability to play characters that are compelling, Connelly has built a legacy which has proven to be lasting. An actress with commitment to her craft, Connelly has become a celebrated icon in the world of entertainment. Her bravery pushing herself in every single role has made for compelling movies. Throughout her strong career, Connelly has starred in several strong movies which are definitely without any single doubt worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of Connelly and adore all the movies she has made in her career. However, “Blood Diamond” is my favourite. Released in 2006, Edward Zwick’s Oscar-winning movie has become a classic. Packed with stunning production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best films ever made about Africa. At the centre of it all are extraordinary performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, who portray a pair of diamond smugglers seeking success in Sierra Leone. Ultimately, what makes “Blood Diamond” a masterpiece is its strong appeal. Unlike most movies about Africa, it discusses universal themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a strong message about trauma which will resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about diamond smugglers, there are many reasons why “Blood Diamond” is a commemorated film about Africa which is absolutely worth seeing.
Set in Sierra Leone, “Blood Diamond” tells the story of diamond smugglers which search for an artifact that’s well-known. Djimon Hounsou portrays Solomon Vandy, an African-American fisherman whose village is attacked by tragic diamonds smugglers. Forced to go into hiding, Hounsou embarks on a journey for vengeance against people that killed his family. Assisted by the dire smuggler Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), Solomon seeks to escape a land of catastrophe. All hope for Solomon seems to be lost until he’s assisted by humanitarian activist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly). Maddy is a passionate activist that has dedicated her life to assisting African-American victims in Sierra Leone. However, Solomon’s dreams are ruined by a country enduring mass genocide disaster. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Solomon begins to question whether it is truly possible to escape a country that faces mass genocide disaster.
Edward Zwick is a newcomer towards stories of Sierra Leone. Before he had directed “Blood Diamond”, Zwick had never directed a movie about dangerous African diamond smugglers in his career. Zwick was famous for his period pieces about lives of American adventurers. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture barriers faced by African diamond smugglers, but he succeeded tremendously. Visually, the film is a breathtaking feast for the eyes that’s as stunning as precious blood diamonds mercenaries idolize. Zwick successfully uses real-life locations in Sierra Leone to demonstrate the dangerous state of a country facing diamond catastrophes. For instance, real-life African locations enhance the Diamond hostage scene. During this tense scene, Solomon and his son are held hostage by a group of African thieves posing tragedy. One appreciates real-life African locations that capture the beauty of a misunderstood African country. Real-life African locations are a tricky technique to use in movies. As Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” suggested, African locations enhance comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using stunning visuals. Zwick captures the hardship Diamond smugglers in Africa seeking success are often facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Blood Diamond” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Zwick expertly uses shaky camera to create action sequences that are engaging. Throughout the movie, Zwick uses handheld camera to convey diamond smugglers facing a dilemma. For instance, handheld camerawork elevates the terrorism scene. During this tense scene, Danny and Solomon embark on a nerve wracking run across war-torn Sierra Leone as they are hunted down by frightening terrorists. One appreciates handheld camerawork that capturing the hardships diamond smugglers are facing. Through handheld camera, Zwick creates a powerful portrait of the terrorism in Africa. Handheld visuals are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Paul Greengrass’ “Captain Phillips” suggested, handheld visuals elevate movies about terrifying hijackings. However, it works immensely in this movie. Moreover, the musical score is phenomenal. James Newton Howard’s score is key to the film’s success. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the intense hardship that African soldiers bear. Through exceptional production-design, Zwick captures dangerous Diamond smugglers that face a decline.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Blood Diamond” is a classic about diamonds that’s engaging. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the intense hardships faced by citizens in a country that experienced a violence. Throughout the film, Zwick successfully uses silence to capture a country facing destruction. For instance, the silence enhances the photography scene. In this unforgettable scene, Solomon is shocked to find his son has been abducted by fearful mercenaries. One appreciates silence which captures the experience of citizens that are doomed. Through these ingenious sequences of silence, Zwick creates a compelling African hero that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to employ in movies. As Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” demonstrated, silence elevates historical films about slavery. Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” claimed that silences elevate historical movies about The Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works rather well in this film. Through a strong screenplay, Zwick captures hardships faced by diamond smugglers which experience a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Jennifer Connelly delivers one of her greatest performances as Maddy Bowen. Bowen first achieved appreciation for playing wives of legendary mathematicians in biopics. With “Blood Diamond”, however, she took on her most emotional role. It isn’t simple to depict hardships faced by a humanitarian seeking recording photos of victims in Sierra Leone, but she succeeded immensely. Connelly is known for playing romantic heroines. With “Blood Diamond”, however, she showcased emotional range she hadn’t shown in her career before. With meaningful expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and trauma of a woman that seeks to assist a nation facing disaster. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actresses working today.
Leonardo DiCaprio is dazzling as a determined diamond smuggler that engages in crimes that cause sorrow. DiCaprio established success in Hollywood by portraying charismatic heroes in dramas. With “Blood Diamond”, however, the actor took a huge step out of his comfort zone portraying a South African diamond smuggler. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most unusual role. It’s tricky for American actors to adopt a South African accent, but DiCaprio succeeded immensely. With riveting expressions, he captures the anger, ferocity and trauma of a diamond smuggler enduring tension. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most beloved actors working in the industry today.
The final, most notable standout in the cast is Djimon Hounsou. As an African American man seeking to reunite with his long lost family, he brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Blood Diamond” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing tensions experienced by diamond smugglers. The film tackles strong themes including identity, revenge and trauma that will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with African traditions to appreciate it. The film delivers a bold message about childhood trauma which would resonate with everyone. Unlike most movies which are set in Africa, it tackles commemorated themes everyone will relate to. Therefore, “Blood Diamond” is one of those rare movies about African-American diamond smugglers which everyone would adore.
Fans of Jennifer Connelly will definitely enjoy “Blood Diamond” and so will movie-goers seeking tense entertainment. A captivating classic about diamond smugglers, it honours an actress that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 10 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about determined diamond smugglers seeking to steal precious artifacts with consequences which are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life women that are compelling whose captivating movies are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 