I went to see Blood Diamond last night expecting a heavy but worthy film. What I actually saw was perhaps the most intense and moving cinematic experience I’ve seen in a long-while.
I won’t go on about the issues behind the film – although they are important. Just go and see the film.
It is very Hollywood at times, but those glossy interludes don’t take anything away from the power of the film.
The trailer is below:
Technorati tags: Blood Diamond; Leonardo di Caprio; Djimon Hounsou; Jennifer Connelly; conflict diamonds;
I was going to see this film on Tuesday with my housemates, but i’ve been told it’s surprisingly rubbish.
Now I don’t know what to believe.
I can’t imagine what would be rubbish about it…. true, as today’s Observer says, it simplifies the issues involved but christ! you wouldn’t want to sit through the intricate process of diamond laundering for two hours.
If you get why diamond mining is/can be exploitative – both in and out of conflict – then the film is a visceral reinforcement of the atrocious genocides undertaken in African civil wars.
Go and see it, seriously.
I’ve been meaning to see this for a while – I’ve touched on the whole conflict diamonds issue in two or three professional iterations now.
Thanks for the recommendation – will definitely make the time to see it.
Just went to watch this. I was really impressed, good call Simon.
If you liked the film then please hav a read of this piece in today’s Society Guradian: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,,2002199,00.html
You should also get hold of a copy of The Heartless Stone by Tom Zoellner – a real eye-opener on the while diamond industry.
Someone discussing films, that’s nice. Anyone seen The lives of others?