Didn't see a thread discussing this upcoming movie.
I caught a preview during Thanksgiving break and it looked intriguing...I wasn't able to pay close attention to it, however. But I have to admit that any story involving the search for a precious stone (or other priceless artifact) has me intrigued.
Edward Zwick directs...he most notably also directed Glory and The Last Samurai. I loved both films.
There's actually a screening of some kind tomorrow night at one of my local theaters. So I've already got my ticket and will be heading out for the 7:15 show. Very much looking forward to this, for Zwick and DiCaprio as much as anything else.
Excellent film that is educational, but doesn't feel like we're sitting in school. DiCaprio is the person everyone is going to see on the screen, but the actor we should all fixate on is Djimon Hounsou. He exudes power, emotion, fear and love in every scene he's in, no matter what's going on around him. There are few people who could hold their own against DiCaprio and he's already worked with most of them. I'm be shocked if Hounsou didn't get a Supporting Actor nod for this.
DiCaprio does a flawless English accent through the entire thing and Jennifer Connelly doesn't end up being the obligatory love interest. The location shooting is just breathtaking, as are the comparisons between the bloody war over diamonds and then the tranquil natural beauty of Sierra Leone.
One of the major things that struck me was the casual brutality of killing and of war. When children are encouraged to pick up weapons and gun down women and other children...when whole villages are wiped out for no apparent reason...seeing it on the screen portrayed like this makes you stop and think. Is it even possible that if the entire world sat down to watch this at the same, we'd stop needlessly killing each other?
Just about the only part I had a problem with was the DiCaprio/Connelly scene near the end on the phone. It just struck me as wrong. Otherwise, all I was expecting it to be. Definately recommended.
From the trailers, it sounds more like a South African accent.
According to the movie, the character is from Zimbabwe. I'm not sure what that kind of accent sounds like. And no mention is made of South Africa. I'll have to do a bit more digging on this one.
EDIT: Other reviewers are calling it an African accent.
Caught the preview screening last night. A very good picture but I'd take The Last Samurai over this. In all honesty, it was about 15 minutes too long, yet I can't think of anything to take out.
The social commentary in the film is quite interesting (and I'm very happy to know a little about the situation now because of this film.) and the action is very, very gripping.
DiCaprio delivers again, although his performance in The Departed is clearly better. Djimon Hounsou had better get an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He's that powerful in this role. It is easily the best performance of his career.
This film is not a Best Picture film but it's a very solid picture nonetheless with some gripping and vicersal action.
As an aside, Ed Zwick should be the only person allowed to shoot Jennifer Connelly in a film ever again. I don't know what he did but Jennifer Connelly was the sexiest she's been in a film in maybe 12 years. She's absolutely lights out. You literally can't take your eyes off of her when she's on the screen. It's almost distracting to this important story. Like always, she's very, very good in the role. But Ed Zwick literally brought sexyback with how Connelly looked in the entire film. That, by itself, will guarantee a purchase on HD in the spring of next year.
And as another aside, you can expect another great looking film by Zwick. It doesn't rival The Last Samurai but it's one of the better shot films this year.
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