Yes it's a slow news weekend so I bring you left over pics of Jennifer Connelly, Edward Zwick, and Djimon Hounsou who are still traveling the globe without Leo to promote Blood Diamond. This time they stopped off in Tokyo. Back here in the states you can rent the film now. Thrilling isn't it?
Lots more of the trio looking thrilled so read more
All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.
Blood Diamond
Nominated for five Academy Awards, Blood Diamond stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny Archer, a white African involved in the illegal diamond trade that funds African warfare. When he learns that native fisherman Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) has a rare pink diamond in hiding, he agrees to help Solomon rescue his son, who has been forced into military service. The film chronicles a brutal time in Africa's political history, along with bringing to light the controversial business of selling "conflict diamonds."
To see another recommendation, read more
In Blood Diamond Academy Award-winner Jennifer Connelly plays Maddy Bowen, an American journalist who gets caught up in the story of two men, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, in search of a rare pink diamond. The film is set in 1990's Sierra Leone and filled with civil war and conflict, which Connelly's character captures on a fancy Leica camera.
According to camera fans, Connelly's character uses an M6 Classic and a 35mm Summicron. However, the sound director dubbed an SLR sound whenever Connelly took a photo. For more Blood Diamond photos - Leo has an awesome watch!- and another filming goof, read more
Leonardo and Co are in Rome as part of their world tour for Blood Diamond. He has been talking up a storm on interviews and recently spoke about his love for British women. Popular TV host, Cat Deeley, interviewed Leo. He said: "Cat's lovely. But then most English girls are. This country churns out some of the loveliest women in the world." Well also know he has a thing for super models but he didn't seem to open up about that in this interview.
For more pics of some of the cast of Blood Diamond at a photo call in Italy just read more
Leo sure has come a long way from his child actor days. He's was nominated for an Oscar yesterday for his work in Blood Diamond. It was pretty much a shoe-in for him to get something this year. In fact, he recently got together for an Oscar round-table with such notable actors as Helen Mirren and Brad Pitt. The banter between Brad and Leo was our favorite part. Here's highlights:
Which movie made you want to become an actor?
DICAPRIO: I tried to get an agent when I was around 7. I was a break-dancer and had a mohawk, and I was rejected. I knew I wanted to be an actor, but it wasn't until "This Boy's Life," when I was 16, that I started to research quality films. I remember watching James Dean in "East of Eden." I said to myself, "Wow, I didn't know it was possible to give a performance this good."
PITT: Although you were extraordinary on "Growing Pains."
DICAPRIO: Thank you, buddy. As were you.
Leo, didn't you get thrown off the set of "Romper Room"?
DICAPRIO: Yeah, when I was 3 years old. I ran up to the camera and started shaking it, saying, "Look at me!"
Romper Room - sounds like someone knew they wanted to be a star at a very young age. Now the nominated actor is in the UK for the premiere of Blood Diamond where he is joined by co-stars Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou. Last time we saw this group together we were speculating about Jennifer's belly. Looks like she could be hiding something again with this dress. For more including Paul Bettany, Jennifer, and Djimon just read more
The new Leonardo DiCaprio movie, Blood Diamond, opens today after several months' worth of controversy. On the one hand, many people are glad to have the movie released, hoping that it will bring to light the serious issue surrounding "conflict diamonds," which continue to finance African warfare. But according to the AP, U.S. Officials disagree, claiming that the trade has been reduced to "significantly less than one percent" of total diamond business, and they fear that the movie will make people think the issue is more serious than it is.
No matter how small the percentage, perhaps it's good to bring to light this illicit activity. However, just a few months ago, Warner Brothers executives came under fire for certain production tactics used for the film. According to The New York Post, African amputees were recruited as extras with the promise that they would receive prosthetic limbs as part of their compensation after the filming. Writes Page Six:
However, more than three months after filming wrapped, the kids are reportedly still waiting for their new limbs and local charity Eastern Cape has been forced to outfit them instead to avoid their disappointment. A Warner Brothers representative allegedly told the victims, "You will have to wait for December, when the movie comes out, so we can get some publicity out of it."
Wow. If that's true, that is cruel exploitation at its best. To explore the issue further, read more
Who knew such a controversial movie would be such a fun time. Leo and his co-stars Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou were on hand for a screening of Blood Diamond at the MoMA in NY last night. Jennifer and her husband Paul Bettany sure seem to be enjoying themselves. In fact, she has a sort of glow about her and Paul seems to be lovingly holding his wife's belly. We're not one to start rumors but could these two be expecting more than Oscar buzz?
For more pics of Leo and his co-stars as well as Kyle MacLachlan, Glenn Close, Emmy Rossum, Ice T and Coco at the screening just read more
Leonardo's is very picky about the films he makes. Maybe that's why before this year he hasn't been in one since The Aviator. Lucky for us - he's in two this year, The Departed and Blood Diamond. Apparently he is just as picky about his jewels as he is about his films. Recently he did a press junket for his latest film where he was asked whether his new film had changed his mind about diamonds. Here's more:
"Well, I don't remember the last time I have," he said. "My mom is the only person that I would buy something like that for, and for a while now she hasn't wanted one. But that isn't to say that people shouldn't buy them."
How can consumers make sure they're not buying conflict diamonds? "From my conversations with Global Witness or Amnesty International, you have to go into the stores and buy these diamonds and ask for a certificate, ask for some sort of authentication that this isn't a conflict diamond," he said. "That's one of the biggest ways that this whole process can be put to a stop."
He also said he and costar Djimon Hounsou spent a lot of time hanging out in muddy swamps while filming the movie. "We would sit there and talk about the different kinds of hot chocolates that you can get in Paris and the croissants. We'd sit there and dream like two weird women about pastries."
More pics of Leo on Melrose in LA shopping around, but probably not for diamonds so read more
