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The Rewatchables ·

Blood Diamond

year 2006decade 00sdirector Edward Zwickgenre Wargenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck format Year of Leo
All 31 categories

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 1:14:56

Helping even one person is enough.

Bill Simmons: Thinking twice before buying an expensive diamond is first proposed as a consumer lesson.

The film

Blood Diamond (2006)

Directed by Edward Zwick · War

143 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Leonardo DiCaprio Danny Archer
Jennifer Connelly Maddy Bowen
Djimon Hounsou Solomon Vandy
Kagiso Kuypers Dia Vandy
Arnold Vosloo Colonel Coetzee
David Harewood Captain Poison
Antony Coleman Cordell Brown
Benu Mabhena Jassie Vandy
Anointing Lukola N'Yanda Vandy
Basil Wallace Benjamin Kapanay

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

20:41

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rhodesian accent is the weak link because it intermittently disappears despite an otherwise stron...

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rhodesian accent is the weak link because it intermittently disappears despite an otherwise strong performance.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:20:41Read transcript
  • The accent becomes a talking point because the performance around it is so strong. — Bill Simmons
  • The panel suggests the role could have been rewritten as an American raised in Rhodesia if the accent could not remain consistent. — Bill Simmons
  • The accent drops most visibly during yelling and emotional scenes. — Chris Ryan
  • The difficult accent still receives a B plus because Leo lands it in most scenes. — Chris Ryan
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26:53

Most Rewatchable Scene

Danny giving back the diamond and calling Maddie

Danny giving back the diamond and calling Maddie

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:53Read transcript
  • The village attack is praised as a gripping opening that establishes Solomon as the story’s true center. — Bill Simmons
  • Solomon finding and concealing the diamond creates suspense through a captive hiding something from armed guards. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny and Maddie’s first bar meeting establishes immediate chemistry without coyness. — Bill Simmons
  • The Solomon-Danny chase is praised as one of several effective pursuit sequences. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny’s explanation of diamond scarcity clearly lays out the market’s incentives.
  • The palm-wine exchange gives a compact history of Danny’s family trauma and mercenary background.
  • Danny and Maddie’s goodbye is selected as an effective farewell. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny and Solomon’s argument turns into a bonding road-movie passage. — Bill Simmons
  • The final mine movement sustains uncertainty about the diamond, Dia, the colonel, and whether anyone escapes. — Bill Simmons
  • Solomon brings Dia out of his fog during the climax. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny appears to double-cross Solomon but continues protecting him after being shot. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny returns the diamond, warns Solomon about the pilot, and calls Maddie as he accepts death. — Bill Simmons
  • The final phone call is proposed as the best scene of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career. — Bill Simmons
  • The Freetown hotel escape builds tension until a large explosion lands in the background of the shot. — Chris Ryan
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27:24

What’s Aged the Worst?

Stephen Collins’s later history, mutilation imagery, implausible mountain reception, failure of diamond reform, and t...

Stephen Collins’s later history, mutilation imagery, implausible mountain reception, failure of diamond reform, and the white-centered perspective

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:27:24Read transcript
  • Stephen Collins’s later public history makes his appearance difficult to revisit. — Bill Simmons
  • The chopping-off-hands sequence is called really tough, then defended as necessary to show what happened. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny’s perfect mountain cell reception is both a dated convenience and a nitpick. — Chris Ryan
  • The ending’s suggestion that the diamond industry changed is weakened by later doubts about the certification process. — Bill Simmons
  • Centering white stars in a story about African civil war, mutilation, and child soldiers is identified as a white-gaze problem. — Chris Ryan
  • A contemporary version would give Solomon the dominant perspective and reduce Danny’s screen time. — Chris Ryan
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40:58

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Danny’s mountain death and phone call are called the best scene of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career.

Danny’s mountain death and phone call are called the best scene of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:58Read transcript
  • The final mountain scene is chosen over prominent work in The Departed and Shutter Island. — Bill Simmons
  • The emotional force comes from Danny returning the diamond, protecting Solomon, and accepting where he will die. — Bill Simmons
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41:36

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Danny’s final mountain wide shot and the Freetown escape explosion

Danny’s final mountain wide shot and the Freetown escape explosion

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:36Read transcript
  • Danny dying against the wide mountain view is the first cinematic-shot choice. — Bill Simmons
  • The explosion behind Danny and Solomon during the hotel escape is a rival shot that feels physically real. — Chris Ryan
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44:37

What’s Aged the Best?

The explanatory title cards, David Harewood’s villain, child-soldier depiction, diamond smuggling, Leonardo DiCaprio’...

The explanatory title cards, David Harewood’s villain, child-soldier depiction, diamond smuggling, Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2006 leap, local language, road-movie structure, goat-skin concealment, and lab-grown diamonds

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:37Read transcript
  • The opening Sierra Leone title cards efficiently establish civil war and control of diamond fields. — Chris Ryan
  • The observed David Harwood villain is immediately hateful yet gains dimension while radicalizing Dia.
  • The child-soldier passages show indoctrination through several short scenes without reducing the process to one speech. — Chris Ryan
  • The refugee-camp and Western-culpability material make the story more detailed than a short romance-driven version would be. — Chris Ryan
  • A diamond hidden in a tooth works as portable currency that immediately funds the next step. — Bill Simmons
  • The old light-blue VW bugs provide memorable period texture. — Bill Simmons
  • DiCaprio’s 2006 work completes the transition from promising child actor to adult leading man. — Bill Simmons
  • The film’s local language and repeated journey through the landscape strengthen the road-movie feeling. — Chris Ryan
  • The road structure makes Danny, Maddie, and Solomon’s relationships change through shared travel. — Chris Ryan
  • Diamonds concealed inside goat skin are praised as another effective smuggling detail. — Bill Simmons
  • Lab-grown diamonds are added as the clearest missed Aged Best answer. — Craig Horlbeck
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45:49

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

David Harewood

David Harewood

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:49Read transcript
  • The performer is initially recognized as the Homeland CIA director before the observed David Harwood is named.
  • The villain is hated within twenty minutes, then shown seducing Solomon’s son and breaking him down. — Bill Simmons
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45:49

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

David Harewood

David Harewood

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:49Read transcript
  • The eye-patched villain is treated as the immediate short-role heat check.
  • Michael Sheen is praised for making a small part oily and scummy enough that the panel wants one more scene. — Bill Simmons
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56:40

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

No; Blood Diamond brought the term and issue to a mass audience

No; Blood Diamond brought the term and issue to a mass audience

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:40Read transcript
  • The title is defended for communicating the conflict-diamond idea broadly. — Chris Ryan
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58:54

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Djimon Hounsou and David Harewood are the main overacting candidates, with Colonel Coetzee also noted.

Djimon Hounsou and David Harewood are the main overacting candidates, with Colonel Coetzee also noted.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:54Read transcript
  • Hounsou is said to raise the intensity several times in circumstances that justify it.
  • Captain Poison and the eye-patched villain material also reach heightened intensity.
  • The observed Colonel Cotsie Cozzi is added as another heightened performer. — Bill Simmons
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1:02:59

Apex Mountain

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:59Read transcript
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1:08:36

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A prestige television adaptation

A prestige television adaptation

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:36Read transcript
  • A series could spend more time on the diamond system and child-soldier story. — Bill Simmons
  • Vital Affairs magazine’s office, finances, and other reporting assignments could become a parallel thread. — Bill Simmons
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1:09:19

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wayne Jenkins is proposed as either Maddie’s café companion or Solomon’s pilot.

Wayne Jenkins is proposed as either Maddie’s café companion or Solomon’s pilot.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:19Read transcript
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1:10:29

Just One Oscar

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:29Read transcript
  • DiCaprio is the immediate choice, though his stronger case across both 2006 movies is emphasized. — Bill Simmons
  • Zwick is proposed for directing the unusually ambitious production. — Chris Ryan
  • The panel argues for an award that can recognize the totality of an actor’s year across multiple films. — Bill Simmons
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1:14:56

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

The diamond

The diamond

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:56Read transcript
  • The diamond is the clear memorabilia choice. — Bill Simmons
  • Danny’s tropical shirts and Indiana Jones-like hat are alternate items. — Bill Simmons
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1:14:56

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Helping even one person is enough.

Helping even one person is enough.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:56Read transcript
  • Thinking twice before buying an expensive diamond is first proposed as a consumer lesson. — Bill Simmons
  • Maddie’s realization that helping one person is enough becomes the stronger lesson.
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1:15:35

Who Won the Movie?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:35Read transcript
  • Leo wins the movie.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Leonardo DiCaprio
Speaker not identified
Leonardo DiCaprio
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