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Blood Diamond

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Blood Diamond (2006)

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Reviews Counted:14

Fresh:8

Rotten:6

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: Blood Diamond overcomes poor storytelling with its biting commentary and fine performances.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for strong violence and language

Runtime: 2 hrs 23 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:26-01-2007

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of the chaos and civil war that enveloped 1990s Sierra Leone, "Blood Diamond" is the story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe, and Solomon... Set against the backdrop of the chaos and civil war that enveloped 1990s Sierra Leone, "Blood Diamond" is the story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary from Zimbabwe, and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman. Both men are African, but their histories and their circumstances are as different as any can be until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond, the kind of stone that can transform a life…or end it. Solomon, who has been taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields, finds the extraordinary gem and hides it at great risk, knowing if he is discovered, he will be killed instantly. But he also knows the diamond could not only provide the means to save his wife and daughters from a life as refugees but also help rescue his son, Dia, from an even worse fate as a child soldier. Archer, who has made his living trading diamonds for arms, learns of Solomon's hidden stone while in prison for smuggling. He knows a diamond like this is a once-in-a-lifetime find—valuable enough to be his ticket out of Africa and away from the cycle of violence and corruption in which he has been a willing player. Enter Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an idealistic American journalist who is in Sierra Leone to uncover the truth behind conflict diamonds, exposing the complicity of diamond industry leaders who have chosen profits over principles. Maddy seeks out Archer as a source for her article, but soon finds it is he who needs her even more. With Maddy's help, Archer and Solomon embark on a dangerous trek through rebel territory. Archer needs Solomon to find and recover the valuable pink diamond, but Solomon seeks something far more precious…his son. Directed by Edward Zwick, the action drama "Blood Diamond" stars Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Aviator"), Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly ("A Beautiful Mind") and Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou ("In America"). The screenplay was written by Charles Leavitt, from a story by Leavitt and C. Gaby Mitchell. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Virtual Studios, "Blood Diamond," a Spring Creek / Bedford Falls production, in association with Initial Entertainment Group, released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. "Blood Diamond" is produced by Paula Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Graham King and Gillian Gorfil. The executive producers are Len Amato, Kevin De La Noy and Benjamin Waisbren. The film also stars Michael Sheen, Arnold Vosloo, David Harewood, Basil Wallace and introduces Kagiso Kuypers as Dia. Collaborating with Zwick behind the scenes were director of photography Eduardo Serra, production designer Dan Weil, costume designer Ngila Dickson, and editor Steven Rosenblum. James Newton Howard composed the score. This film has been rated "R" by the MPAA for "strong violence and language" "Blood Diamond" opens nationwide on December 8, 2006, and will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. -- © Warner Bros. [More]

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Stephen Collins

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Stephen Collins, Jimi Mistry, Ato Essandoh, Michael Sheen, Basil Wallace, Kasigo Kuypers, Arnold Vosloo, Marius Weyers

Director: Edward Zwick

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: Gillian Gorfil, Marshall Herskovitz, Graham King
Composer: James Newton Howard
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Blood Diamond

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1 - 13 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Issue-tainment. Puts the issue of conflict diamonds in the public eye. Whether or not that makes it a great drama is a slightly different question.

Full Review Source: BBC Radio Five Live | comment Comment
01/29/07
Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode
BBC Radio Five Live
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The whole thing is more Gerald Ratner than Harry Winston.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/26/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
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So bleak and depressing you will never look at a gemstone again without idly wondering how many lives it might have cost.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment 2 Comments
01/26/07
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]
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Not robust enough to deliver on its early promise.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
01/26/07
James Mottram
James Mottram
Channel 4 Film
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If you can ignore Zwick's colonial bombast, Blood Diamond is quite a ride: a gripping tale of greed and exploitation set against a background that seems constantly on the verge of explosive violence.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/26/07
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
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Great performances, provocative ideas and gripping action scenes fall prey to Hollywood logic and pat storytelling in the final hour.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/25/07
Damon Wise
Damon Wise
Empire Magazine
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It doesn’t entirely evade the issue at its core – conflict diamonds – in favour of pure action by way of guns and planes, thrills and spills; but it hardly embraces the subject fully either.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/25/07
Dave Calhoun
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
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Great performances, provocative ideas and gripping action scenes fall prey to Hollywood logic and pat storytelling in the final hour.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/25/07
Damon Wise
Damon Wise
Empire Magazine
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DiCaprio proves himself the most watchful and watchable actor of his age.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
12/11/06
TIME Magazine
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Blood Diamond is a work of amazingly orchestrated chaos.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/08/06
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
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Blood Diamond is very much aware that these are problems beyond easy and convenient resolution, and it is hard not to appreciate any film that understands that.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/07/06
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
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The makers this exceptionally foolish thriller starring a most excellent Leonardo DiCaprio, want you to know there may be blood on your hands, specifically your wedding finger.

comment 14 Comments
12/07/06
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
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Despite shining contributions, this composite of action-adventure and social message doesn't quite crystallize.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/01/06
Sheri Linden
Sheri Linden
Hollywood Reporter
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Africa's enduring sorrow is ripe for drama, but Blood Diamond is, finally, a fitting metaphor for the gems: Potentially brilliant from a distance, but upon closer inspection, one likely will see the flaws.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/01/06
Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety
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1 - 13 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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