Blood Diamond (2006)

A terrific work of fiction, in Gregory Currie's sense, "Blood Diamond" is one of those history-based adventure dramas that reminds you of a good old-Hollywood flick starring Humphrey Bogart as the hard-boiled & slightly crooked but ultimately moral character. This is not to say that I'm comparing the gifted Leonardo DiCaprio with Bogie the icon; merely that the film elicits a positive response via the traditional film-fiction-making of solid performances by A-list actors, compelling characters & a good structure. Jennifer Connelly is a case in point: a serious actor who plays up her sex appeal and exudes the charm of a self-confident woman in serving the screenplay as the protagonist's only link to the civilized world.

The narrative even has a memorable motto, "TIA," which resignedly stands for "This is Africa."

More importantly, I will not look at diamond jewelry the same way again. 15 minutes into the film, I begin to wonder if the diamond ring I purchased from the retailer Tiffany's is one tainted, metaphorically, with the blood of hostaged Africans during its mining. I am persuaded by the film's morality and, as a result, feel happily guilty.