New Blood Diamond Review at AICN
There is a new review at AICN. Reviewer gives it 8/10 http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30393

Thanks josephc. Sounds like a pretty cynical person who reviewed it, but even they seemed impressed. I look forward to hearing even more reviews soon.

reviews
thanks josephc (Joseph Conrad?) - overall pretty good review though disappointed to read he thought the relationship with Connolly and Leo 's characters didn't work. I wish they didnt feel a need to insert a romance into it but I guess Hollywood being what it is, they always seem to think a film, esp a big film, needs one.Don't get me wrong, would like to see Leo in a good love story but maybe one where that's the focus like a romance drama or comedy.

I'm guessing that it's possibly hard for the viewer to watch such a difficult and painful subject and then try to take in a romantic sub-plot at the same time. There's a way to do it, but it has to be done with a certain seriousness and subtely. But then again, it could just be this one reviewer that thought it didn't work for whatever his own reasons may be. I'll have to wait and see myself.

I think the chemistry is okay between the actors, though. It may just feel false under the pretext of the storyline. Also, this is a male reviewer. Most of the female reviewers haven't had such a negative reaction. :) Personally, I think this is the film that lots more people will be taking DiCaprio seriously as an "amazing" actor. For me he's certainly grown as an actor over his last few outings and I think this is a good year for him, whether he gets any nominations or not. My own opinion is that he won't, but you never know until the fat lady sings, do you :?:

BD reviews
josephc, thanks for a BD review. I'm also looking forward to hearing more reviews and thoughts about BD...other than all the Diamond Industry articles I've read in the past few months.

josephc, I think Leo will get praise for Blood Diamond as well, but I feel strongly that he's going to get a nom for The Departed. Bets are on! ;)

Leo's gotten a lot of recent praise for his work on The Departed so he doesn't need to wait for BD to get people to notice that he's an amazing actor (aside from those who already was aware of him as an amazing actor even before Titanic). I've read all the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and I'm even amazed about the raves Leo's gotten for the TD and its not just from "professional" critics; its also from the Joe Blows, reading blog comments and reader comments. So actually I hope TD is a worthwhile film so that the love continues - because we all know critics and the public are fickle.

I don't expect the same kind of raves for BD, though. I think it will get mostly B to B+ or lower reviews from critics. I think audiences may like it, especially since TD will give him ever more currency at the box office. I don't have much faith in Ed Zwick, though.

Agreed, Zwick just doesn't do it for me as a director. But we haven't seen the finished product so I'll withhold judgement - so far the reviews so far have been on the positive side than not.

However, BD has quite a serious political backdrop. And much like Constant Gardner, this film could be very much up Oscar's alley.

On another oscar site, there is some talk that BD may be getting pushed back to 2007 now. Maybe Warners sees Departed more as it's likely oscar hopeful now and doesn't want any competition from another film.

it could be viewed as a good sign or a bad sign. Usually when a film is pushed back, people tend to think it's not a good sign. But I think box office wise it might be better for BD cause there are a glut of films coming out around December, especially films that would be more kid-family friendly.

New York magazine reviews the trailer: The Gist: Shockingly, Warner Bros. doesn’t use Kanye West’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” to sell this African thriller, but it still booms—with gunshots mostly. Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou co-star, but Leonardo DiCaprio steals the trailer, nailing an Afrikaner accent. A sharp sell. http://nymag.com/movies/features/22810/