I figured that any movie with Leonardo is going to be a huge hit and wondered why BD doesn't seem to be. Aaahh...it didn't take long to figure out why:
a) this movie is 2 hrs and half! That's wayyyyyyy too long for the average American to have to THINK
b) this movie has a story that touches on some "sensitive" political topics but the movie doesn't try to tell YOU how you should feel about those topics. Said topics include: forced slavery, South Africa, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe,
hero/anti-hero, violence vs. non-violence, etc.etc. Oh my!
c) No storybook happy ending.
Blood Diamond is like one of the better independent-style films in that it assumes the viewer is half-way educated and doesn't need to be told EVERYTHING under the sun as a back-story. The fact that BD has "Leo" in it means it sure ain't some indy film but Leo does his best acting and it appears that maybe he or his agent or looking for "edgy" roles like this. Worked pretty damn well for Johnny Depp.
This flick has quite a story and I have to give props to Di Caprio for not only his acting(very good), but for taking the role in the first place. While the topics of slavery in "those other places" and who those slave-masters are is not new by any means, you don't usually see Hollyweird getting near the subject. Same with how some diamonds come on to the market, but oh yeah, we'll change the company from "DeBeers" to "Vandermar"
I happen to like long run-times if the film has substance and is directed well. This one certainly is and is never *dullsville.* This is a very ambitious movie and if it had been an hour shorter like most, it would have really sucked! As it is on the screen right here and now, an excellent movie choice! Worth the bucks and worth getting off the sofa instead of waiting for the DVD.
NUK
