Blood Diamond: You may think you want a rock...

WORTH-IT: (Edward Zwick) Wow. This movie slid under the rug during Oscar season. It was ridiculously intense, emotional, beautiful, and REAL. Zwick (Legends of the Fall) spared no blood, no heart, no soul for the reality put forth in this film. Based on true events, Blood Diamond captures the tragedy behind diamond harvesting in South Africa. "TIA" is what the Africans repeat, standing for "this is Africa," as a way to explain their violent existence. In a state of civil unrest, the people of South Africa are ripped apart, burned, and stolen by refugees illegally sending diamonds across the border to be sold to "young American women dreaming of a storybook wedding and a big rock on their finger." Leo DiCaprio does a phenomenal job as the heartless smuggler out to use and abuse to get his ticket out of the war zone, a 100 carat blood diamond. But the spotlight belongs to Djimon Hounsou. His character is the face of the crisis, and his performance grips you from the beginning. He's a father, a husband, a partner, a prisoner, and a hero. I can't find many negative things to say for the film, other than its gory and violent, so be wary if you can't handle that. It's a very real film, that hits close to home for anyone with a taste for diamonds, and may prove to violent to endure for some. I could have done without the Leo-Connelly love-fling, as it did nothing for the film but give Leo's character an outlet to reveal his softer side. And her character's inconsistency was distracting. But given a chance, this film tells a story that deserves publicity. And its done well. It reaches the heart, it pleases the eye, and it touches the soul. Djimon should have won the Oscar. His voice and his drive serve as the power source for the movie's impact.