Blood and Diamonds

A bottle of J&B Whiskey on the table in the first shot already? Yup, you're watching a Fernando Di Leo movie! This man remains forever on my hero list for making several of the most genius Poliziotesschi thrillers ever made. Nobody - not even other genre deities like Umberto Lenzi or Stelvio Massi - made Italian cop/crime thrillers as relentlessly brutal and as uncompromisingly violent as Di Leo. His triple feature "Milano Caliber .9", "The Italian Connection", and "The Boss" are the best of the best, and several other titles (like "Kidnap Syndicate" and "Shoot First, Die Later") are perplexing films.

"Blood and Diamonds" is also really, really good. Unfortunately, I can't reward it with a rating 9 or 10, because it didn't provide me with the same adrenalin rush or sentiments of excitement as any of the titles mentioned in the previous paragraph, but it's a fantastic thriller from start to finish.

Claudio Cassinelli is sublime as the out-for-vengeance thief who walks through the entire film with a face as angry as a thundercloud! Of course, Guido doesn't have much to smile about. He just spent five long years in prison because he got snitched to the police during his last heist, and he's barely released, or two hired punks rob the bus he's on and mercilessly kill his beloved wife. Guido is convinced that big-shot mafia boss Rizzo is behind all of it and swears to kill him. Meanwhile, Guido's stepson and his feisty girlfriend are planning a diamond heist at the airport, and Guido inevitably gets sucked in.

Di Leo's screenplay is once again very tense, convincing, absorbing, and holding a surprise or two in store. The action is harsh and gritty, with stone cold executions and heists ending in bloodbaths, the direction is tight & surefooted, the soundtrack (by master-composer Luis Bacalov) is exquisite, and the décors and filming locations bring the awesome 70s back to life. But the most impressive quality of "Blood and Diamonds", though, is the great casting choices and ditto performances.

Cassinelli outshines his Poliziotesschi competitors (notably Maurizio Merli and Luc Merenda) on every level with his depiction of embittered, soulless, and infuriated ex-con/thief. Cassinelli starred in too many Italian cult movies to list, but never received the recognition and praise he deserved. He also died too young, in a helicopter crash whilst filming "Atomic Cyborg" in 1986. Martin Balsam portrays godfather Rizzo, and he's great as always, but there are two other performances I'd like to put in the spotlights. First, the ravishing Barbara Bouchet to prove that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Barbara lies, manipulates, strip-dances, and gets slapped in the pretty face. That woman seriously took a lot of beatings in her career. Last, certainly not least, I just must mention Pier Paolo Capponi as Rizzo's psychotic henchman Tony. Usually Capponi plays police inspectors, but he obviously had a blast of a time here as the lunatic.

Fernando Di Leo gets a lot of harsh criticism, but in my opinion; he's been behind some of the very burst Polizi flicks to come out of Italy, in particular The Italian Connection and Milano Calibre 9. On the strength of this film, however, you would be forgiven for thinking he's more than just a little bit sub-par as despite some truly excellent action scenes; Blood and Diamonds is not a completely successful film, and a lot of that is down to the fact that the plot doesn't flow too well and the film constantly fluctuates between exciting and boring. The plot focuses on a man named Guido who goes down for robbery. He is released several years later and gets picked up by his girlfriend. They decide to take the bus, and it turns out to be a bad decision as the bus comes under attack by a gang of thugs and despite the heroic ex-convict jumping the rescue of his fellow passengers; it doesn't stop the thugs from murdering his girlfriend. Guido begins to suspect that the murder may have some connection from his time inside and resolves to get to the bottom of it.

The opening is actually pretty good and makes you think you might be in for another excellent thrill ride, but unfortunately the bus sequence is never matched until the very end and by then it's too little too late. Prolific Italian actor Claudio Cassinelli takes the lead role and does a fairly good job with it, although he's not charismatic enough to lead the film on his own. His two main co-stars stand out more than he does, and the beautiful Barbara Bouchet as well as American actor Martin Balsam deliver great supporting performances. There's not a great deal of thrills during the middle of the film, which is a shame as this type of film is famed for shootouts and car chases; only an indoor fist fight is really memorable. Thankfully the plot does start to thicken as the film moves into the final third, although we are never really given a good reason to care for the lead character and so his plight is not all that interesting - that being said, the ending itself is better than the vast majority of what came before it. Overall, Blood and Diamonds is not a must see Polizi flick and I would only recommend it to hardened fans of the genre.

No pun intended - does it matter if it is forever? Or if the movie is just something you can watch and have some fun with? It actually reminds me and maybe you, of movies of that era. The way it is shot, the acting, the story and so forth. I never had heard of this - and I really would not call this a classic. But it has the grim attitude of movies of the 70s. It starts off with our main character in quite the ... trouble.

And it does not get much better after that ... especially considering how he views things ... and how things turn out he touches ... or rather people he is involved with. Also does it matter, if he is right with what he thinks goes on? You'll understand once you watch it ... sometimes things happen, without any reason though ... and that is how the movie feels too ... whatever the case, if you like grim, action packed (don't expect superb choreographed scenes though) thrillers ... with a touch of nostalgia ... well you could do worse.

A truly masterful and terrifically riveting 70s actioner from the rightfully lauded high-stylist of Italian genre cinema, Fernando Di Leo. 'Blood & Diamonds' is a definite keeper for both euro-crime junkies and lovers of dynamic, compellingly plot-heavy action thrillers. The brooding, charismatic Claudio Cassinelli delivers yet another immaculate performance, and uber-gorgeous gangster's moll, Barbara Bouchet is sweet enough to engender a diabetic swoon in even the most robust of males (or females, natch!). All of the gloriously unfiltered honour or death, macho slam-bang-gangster man, revenge-fuelled dynamism is excitingly punctuated by yet another blazing jazz-funk score from the supremely talented Luis Bacalov. A taut, melancholic, expertly crafted, diamond hard 70s poliziotteschi that is most certainly ripe for re-discovery.

After serving a jail term, a man goes out for revenge on the gang members he considers were to blame for his arrest.

Blood and Diamonds (Diamanti sporchi di sangue) is wonderfully directed by Fernando di Leo, the locations give credence to his crime thriller story and screenplay. Amedeo Giomini's editing is tip-top especially in the action scenes littered throughout.

Steely Claudio Cassinelli is perfectly cast as understated restrained Guido Mauri. Cassinelli (taken before his time in a helicopter accident while filming in 1985) offers a great performance, impressively helping to ground the film even when gun toting or going mano a mano. It's a crying shame, but pivotal to the plot that striking Olga Karlatos' (Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)) Maria has such little screen time. Karlatos is memorable in the films first act and best setup where a bus is attacked. Stunning Barbara Bouchet is at the top of her game, but is given little to do as club go-go-dancer Lisa. The crime boss Rizzo is played by American acting veteran Martin Balsam (12 Angry Men (1957), Psycho (1960), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) to name a few) who is on his usual fine form. Pier Paul Capponi is notable as Rizzo's annoying henchman, who confronts Guido at every opportunity.

It was originally conceived as a name cash-in connection to 'Rome caliber 9' to Di Leo's similar film Caliber 9 (1972). Luis Enriquez Bacalov music is perfect, the action cues notable and reused in Virus (aka Zombie Creeping Flesh and 'Hell of the Living Dead') (1980). As the police harass Guido and the local mafia boss try to get rid of him there's betrayal, shootouts and toplessness. There's a memorable violent garage scene that sets up the third act. Surprisingly it doesn't sell itself out and builds to a poignant low-key ending which works in its favour.

Overall, don't expect an all out Italian action film, it shares more with Get Carter (1971) its slow burning pace may not be for everyone, but this perfectly encapsulates the time and offers a mighty fine brooding turn from Cassinelli.