You hear of some movies being very hard hitting. Hear about how they change your outlook. Hear about how you vow to be cognizant of certain facts in life which remain alien in the world you live in – a cocoon with protection from all evils.
My basic problem with such movies is that it’s difficult to remove hype from reality. Many of these “hard hitting” movies (Million Dollar Baby) are sometimes so ‘Oscary’ that you leave the theatre almost depressed.
I shied away from Blood Diamond for the longest time for this very reason. Finally I saw it in the latest Boeing 777-300 with a brand new spanking 10” screen, and wished how I missed it on the big screen.
Based on apparent illegal diamond trade that still goes on in Eastern Africa – Blood Diamond is a movie that serves a dual purpose. It shocks (and o boy how) and entertains. Let’s get to the shocking parts first.
The atrocities carried out in Africa, the ruthless killings in Darfur for example, the civil wars, the foreign rulers are all written about and shown in movies like Hotel Rwanda. Blood Diamond ensures that a political angle – rich diamond companies trying to stockpile diamonds in the basement (literally) to increase the prices and the local governments of the lands where these precious diamonds are available trying their own ways to not let them go out of the country. This automatically creates a militia force supported by the corporations against the local governments. The killing of entire villages, abduction of teenage boys to make them the next ‘infantry’ members, refugee camps, horrid state of life is captured with no holds bar. It’s not clichéd, but its not lack of gore as well. The movie stays true to its story about one such hapless African who gets separated from his family in the midst of this crisis. How his path inter-twines with a greedy diamond dealer and a reporter looking for a major story is what forms the basic plot. The emotions of the characters provide shock value as well with beautifully scripted characters.
Now for the entertainment value – truly exceptional performances, beautiful shots, excellent photography, breathtaking action sequences and an apt end (during credits roll) that sets up the mood. Leo has been giving powerhouse performance off late – its sad that he is not being awarded for these. Jennifer Connoley adds the right amount of feminine touch as a rebel journalist in this otherwise ‘macho’ movie. I was most amazed with Djimon Honsuo performance. Its worth it just for him. The movie is beautifully shot with some amazing African landscape captured on lens. The action sequences are worth rewinding and watching again – it really makes you feel “you were there”. Finally the movie ends with a rap song that plays as the titles role that almost provides a vent for the anger and frustration that you feel during the movie.
Let me know if you’ve seen it already and tell me if
- You’ll not think of this before buying a diamond again
- You’ll not think of this movie when you hear about Darfur
- You didn’t feel like finding out how these things are going now
If that’s not hard hitting – what is? Worth a watch – don’t miss it.
