Cogito Ergo Sum: January 2007

BLOOD DIAMOND

The ‘great eye’ of Hollywood is it seems, no more on a Land of Mordor or an Alagaesia or any other fantasia. With the utter failure of the movie Eragon, much to the disappointment of Christopher Paolini’s Trilogy’s fans, its gaze has shifted elsewhere. Enter Marvel & DC comics and remakes of olden goldies, and Africa ! ; a continent long forgotten and as barren and wasted as Mordor itself:Once the cradle of Humanity,Yes T-I-A !… “This is Africa”!

With the success of movies such as The Last King of Scotland and The Constant Gardener, producers are now looking towards Africa like never before. Blood Diamond is the latest addition to the African genre. Not since Tears of the sun and Hotel Rwanda has Africa been on the spotlight, atleast not in Hollywood.

Based on the conflict diamonds trade that continues to fuel the many conflicts that ravages Africa today and set in the civil war of Sierra Leone, the film portrays a country torn apart by a struggle between sides equally vicious and heedless of the suffering of innocent non-combatants.

Leonardo DiCaprio gives a surprisingly good performance in this movie. Since his début into Hollywood in What’s eating Gilbert Grape as a teenager, DiCaprio has grown not only professionally but also, Physically it seems! And just when we were beginning to wonder whether he will ever be able to grow out of his Romeo’-Nick Carter stereotype!

Jennifer Connelly looked, as always, absolutely fabulous. Therefore naturally so too was her performance .keke.

Djimon Hounsou's performance was outstanding.