white-Man’s Graveyard
Rather simplistic Western account of the 1999 Civil War in Sierra Leone hampered by a quintessentially-White and so inevitably-blinkered perspective on African events. It presents Whites as rapacious colonial exploiters unable to form empathic relations with self and others while simultaneously claiming not all Whites are like that: Blacks are family-oriented while Whites are money fixated. Trying to have it both ways like this makes for guilt-ridden drama and those reporting on Africa's problems are shown as no better than any other exploitive mercantilist: A reality the film never fully grasps - despite trying hard to.
The excessive violence also attests to the ulterior motive for making such a movie - the Western desire for Bread and Circuses spectacle as entertainment. As Africa has for many centuries been the White man's playground, it remains so in the minds of Hollywood moguls intent on making characterless movies like this.
Yet, despite everything - politically - this films ends up packing a powerful emotional punch, and so saves itself from being just another formulaic action movie. And the point about diamond smuggling being for the benefit of Western Whites and their obsession with betokening their marriages with diamond rings is well made, as is the implication that Africa is the White man's graveyard from which their attempt to extricate themselves, with their stolen wealth intact, only makes it worse for everyone.
The movie does feature a surprisingly-good performance from the usually lackluster Leonardo DiCAPRIO - a brave choice for him since he plays someone unsympathetic. Unsurprisingly, the photography and the script favor him more than any of the Black characters, even though there is no sexual chemistry between his character and his love interest. The ever-reliable Djimon HOUNSOU offers self-assured introspection that speaks volumes for the suffering his character experiences without the need for Method mannerisms.
Somewhat better than the The Wild Geese, but Hotel Rwanda and The Defiant Ones are much better movies.
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