Blood Diamond

**** Stars

Blood Diamond is a brilliant look at a bewildering controversy. It explores a culture unknown to the common man, with stunningly brutal performances and crisp cinematography. It is one of the best films of the year.

Set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone, Danny Archer (a magnificent and brutally glowing Leonardo Dicaprio) is a South African mercenary set out to find a rare pink diamond that is so rare that it could cost the lives of genocidal proportions. Solomon Vandy (the always fabulous Djimon Hounsou) is a Mende fisherman who finds the blood diamond and buries it from the rebels after his family is taken captured by them. Archer learns of Solomon’s situation in prison and uses him to find the diamond in exchange for helping him find his family. They cross paths with Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist who is writing stories of the civil war. Through a mysterious and deep connection with Archer, she and the two men embark on an epic journey for family, loyalty and what is morally right. Archer discovers there is more to life than just diamonds.

Hounsou is outstanding and perfectly cast. His intensity ads wonders to the screen. Connelly is a little weak around the edges but manages to bring enough to her character where she isn't totally unwatchable. Zwick's direction is intense and brutal. As a director he is underrated and deserves recognition with his abilities to direct young children without very limited acting experience. This is another well worthy edition to his collection.

However, the film belongs to Dicaprio. His visual presence and audacious accent is spellbinding. His acting here is of Oscar-caliber and one of the best performances of his already astounding career. This has been one whopper of a year for Dicaprio, with Blood Diamond and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Either way, Dicaprio is on his way to scoring his third Academy Award nomination, and potentially a deservingly first win.