And now, the report. Well, folks, I have to tell you...

...I shouldn't be writing yet because I'm still wiped out.

Yes, it had those elements of white guilt and political correctness mentioned earlier, but for me and my buddy all that crap was swept away by sheer cinematic and dramatic magnificence.

Mind you, I'm criticizing it on my matinee scale, not my evening scale, but I think even at night this flick would still rate.

Can one actor be nominated for "Best" twice in the same year, for two different roles? That would be Leo DiCaprio. Holy Mother of God was this guy good! Nor were the lesser roles any less perfectly done.

The dialog was spot-on.

The first act was totally smooth and seamless; I was hooked after half an hour and didn't care whether the thing became a mess (it didn't).

The photography never intruded, yet presented an African panorama.

The cutting was likewise unobtrusive.

Only at the beginning of the third act did things look as if they might get spotty, but in five minutes we were back in the swing. (The end of the second act is marked by some natural humor.)

But be warned, this is a very, very rough movie. You will not be happy that your eyes have witnessed such atrocity. (I'm just sayin'...)

A bonus: We looked in on Apocalypto, my buddy at the beginning of a showing (he said it was great), myself in the middle of another, and I was utterly riveted; in fact I could scarcely, ah, rip myself away for Blood Diamond. Report follows.

clark

PS I happen to be in South Florida, where the exhibition (at least on the East coast) is usually excellent -- and that always helps.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Blood Diamond -- up for this afternoon. But first, I checked the local review: - clarkjohnsen 07:08:33 12/08/06 (20)

A heartless film of no redemption . . . - mr grits 15:51:31 12/10/06 (0)

And now, the report. Well, folks, I have to tell you... - clarkjohnsen 13:33:36 12/08/06 (1)

Re: And now, the report. Well, folks, I have to tell you... - afilado 20:12:10 12/10/06 (0)

" But first, I checked the local review:" WHY!? nt - Analog Scott 09:39:56 12/08/06 (12)

Why not? Zwick is highly suspect after... - Harmonia 15:24:57 12/08/06 (2)

Why not? To see it fresh. To think for one's self. nt - Analog Scott 01:24:02 12/09/06 (1)

That is usually quite easy for me to do. - Harmonia 19:27:36 12/10/06 (0)

Because I read the morning papers, and there it is! nt - clarkjohnsen 13:09:11 12/08/06 (8)

So do I but I skip any reviews of movies I intend to see. - Analog Scott 01:26:00 12/09/06 (7)

And what leads you to believe I didn't? - clarkjohnsen 06:02:25 12/09/06 (6)

LOL read your first post and figure it out. - Analog Scott 11:00:24 12/09/06 (5)

And you, for yourself, read the last line of my original post. Can't see what your complaint is. nt - clarkjohnsen 17:58:09 12/09/06 (4)

Dude, I think you have lost it . - Analog Scott 19:25:51 12/09/06 (3)

"Then you seem to loose your mind... Are yo retarded?" Man, I should just rest my case here. - clarkjohnsen 05:39:24 12/10/06 (2)

Why bother with these Internet snipers? - pconr 13:32:20 12/10/06 (0)

I must say you have made progress - Analog Scott 11:33:14 12/10/06 (0)

Re: Blood Diamond -- up for this afternoon. But first, I checked the local review: - rico 09:19:58 12/08/06 (3)

Denby is a flabby critic, easily impressed by political correctness. nt - clarkjohnsen 13:10:10 12/08/06 (2)

Yes - rico 14:01:10 12/08/06 (1)

And there you have it! One of the more disagreeable people here... - clarkjohnsen 14:22:39 12/08/06 (0)

Follow Ups

And now, the report. Well, folks, I have to tell you... - clarkjohnsen 13:33:36 12/08/06 (1)

Re: And now, the report. Well, folks, I have to tell you... - afilado 20:12:10 12/10/06 (0)

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