Blood Diamond (Two-disc special edition)
Warner Home Entertainment

Sierra Leone has known more than it’s fair share of tragedy. It is the region’s seemingly unending pain that is at the center of Blood Diamond. Directed by Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, BD is an action film set in the brutal world of diamond mining. The mining is often done by forced labor, with the money going to fund war. Hence the term “Blood Diamond”.

The story centers on three people: Archer (DiCaprio), a Diamond Smuggler looking to get out of Africa, Maddy Bowen (Connelly), an idealistic reporter looking to tell the world about the blood diamond trade, and Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a local fisherman whose family has been taken away from him.

The paths of these cross and become intertwined. Solomon has hidden a rare pink diamond, but the only thing he really wants is to be reunited with his family. Archer wants this rare treasure and is willing to help Solomon find his family in exchange for said bauble. Maddy wants to report the truth and sees the stories of Archer and Solomon has a chance to do so.

Blood Diamond is a fast paced, thought provoking film that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Some of the action is graphic, so this might not be for the faint of heart. Thought over the top and , at times, uneven, this is good movie that will leave many of it’s viewers thinking a little more about a time and place that might not otherwise enter their consciousness.

The film is available both in separate one and two-disc editions. I strongly recommend the two-disc set as it offers a look into the war and diamond trade, as well as giving us a look into the making of the film.

Jeremy

Click here to purchase Blood Diamond from Amazon.