MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If the ending was better, I would have said movie of the year, but the last 35 minutes or so of the movie kind of ruined it for me.

You might be wondering what movie I'm talking about ... BLOOD DIAMOND

I will not ruin the story for anyone, but I will state a few opinions and a reflection upon watching

First my opinion:

Five years ago I would have laughed my head off had I heard someone say Leonardo Di Caprio is a good actor. I am indeed amazed at the evolution this actor has gone through. He has come a long way since the days of Titanic. He may have shown signs of genius in his first role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, he took a turn to the worse in Titanic, a sad excuse for a movie. He then slowly began escalating with ok performance in Romeo and Juliet, The Beach and Gangs of New York (though the last one was all about Daniel Day Lewis). Leo excelled in Catch Me If You Can, Aviator, and more recently The Departed. This however was a totally different level of acting. 1) He maintains the South African accent throughout the movie almost to perfection. 2) He portrays various emotions with control he did not previously have. Granted the story is brilliant and the character very well written, but I have to give him credit for performing, to perfection, a very difficult role.

Leonardo Di Caprio: 10/10

When I first watched Amistad, I thought, if this guy can speak English, given the emotion and passion he shows in his acting, he will become something. He's kind of typecast himself with his choice of roles since then with the most mentionable once being Gladiator and Blood Diamond. Djimon Honsou got himself an Oscar nomination with this magnificent, powerful and passionate performance. He is the African patriot. He is also the father. Never torn between the two, his priorities always straight, again big ups to the character development and of course, to Djimon for the portrayal. I can congratulate you now on your Oscar! (Hope you don't make me eat my words)

Djimon Honsou: 10/10

This beautiful woman almost always carefully selects her roles. Which is why she's landed movies like Requiem for a Dream and her Oscar winner A Beautiful Mind, an Oscar Well deserved. The only one in the lead cast of the movie to have won an Oscar before, she's also the only one not nominated for one after this movie, with Djimon and Leo soon to join her, if not this year, then soon enough, as Academy Award Winners. Jennifer Connelly provides the female presence, plays the concsience. I would not go so far as to say her performance is lame, but she's extremely cliche in her role as the American journalist who saves the day.

Jennifer Connelly: 6/10

Blood Diamond Overall: 8/10

This movie would have gotten a 15/10 from me had the ending been different. To be honest, it may be easier for me to sit here and criticize than actually do something, I don't know what I would have done differently, but I know I would not have chosen to end it the way it did!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Watching this movie, I felt so appalled by the violence, so disgusted by the apathy, and so angered by the gravety of the situation. One exchange in the movie really hit home, when Leo remarks that "God left this place long ago". As usual, I will not take a religious stand nor a political one. But for someone who believes in God to suddenly realize that the situation is so helpless that the ominous force in which he believes has lost hope, must make us stop to think.

I will not make this long nor philosophical I will not ruin the movie for you. Go Watch It. NOW if you can. And when you do, there's a message at the end of the movie. I would like to know how that can be done. How will you do it? I know how I will!

OK, a de go nau - (I'm going now)