Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
Director: Tom Dey
Rating:
Enetertainment Quotient: 30%
Genre: Adventure / Drama
Runtime: 143 min
MPAA rating: R for strong violence and language.

Synopsis:

Sierra Leone is a diamond mining place in Africa. The rebels take over this place in a civil war and dig diamonds. They sell them to western diamond companies for millions of dollars, which in turn is used to fund the firearm expenses for rebels to keep an upper hand over the government.

Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a diamond smuggler who deals with western Diamond companies. Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) is a poor fisherman who wants to see his son study well and become a doctor. In the conflict, Solomon is separated from his entire family. Solomon is captured and recruited by rebels as a diamond digger. He finds one of the biggest diamonds and buries in a secret place. Later he is rescued by the government. Danny comes to know about this incident and makes a deal with Solomon that he would find his family members and he should get the diamond in return.

Then he befriends an American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) and offers her an irresistible deal of exposing all the men who are involved in the dirty trade of conflict diamonds. With these three people as team, the story of the film is all about whether they could procure that diamond or not.

It is a story of three complete strangers working together for their individual objectives.

What I liked in the film?

1. The father - son thread: The thread of father wanting to see his son as an educated person. The father’s anxiety to get his son back drives the entire film.
2. The combination of Danny - Solomon: This combination of two men with two different objectives are forced to work together as it could only be accomplished as a team.
3. Theme: It takes a close look at ‘Diamond = Death” equation when diamonds are found in South Africa.

What I did not like in the film?

1. Length: Runtime of the film is more than 2 and half hours and hence part of the film appears boring.
2. Child violence: Like City of God, this film too has children doing unthinkable things like drugs, alcohol and use of firearms.

Similar films: Hotel Rwanda, The Constant Gardener & City of God

Oscars: This film is nominated for 5 Oscars (Best actor, Best supporting actor, Best editing, Best sound editing and best sound mixing).

Tailpiece:
As the film progresses towards climax, one expects a tragic climax. However, the director did a wishful thinking to make an happy ending.