MovieChat Forums > Blood Diamond (2006) Discussion > Would have been better without the whole...

Would have been better without the whole 'love interest' subplot

posted 12 years ago by basset4
20 replies | jump to latest

Seriously. It's like the filmmakers just caved in to the general public's expectations for the obligatory love interest. I like Jennifer Connelly, but felt her character had no place in the movie. Or, at least, her character could have been written differently. In my opinion, the role doesn't really add much to her career. Also, is it just me or is her range limited to either dark and depressing, or sultry sexpot? Anyway, cheers!

[–] fluoro-phi 12 years ago

I said the same thing during the scene where Leo is telling her to get on the plane.....I was so close to just fast forwarding until she did, which is a shame as the film as a whole was incredibly engrossing.

[–] Val_fly 12 years ago

I actually liked how they worked it in, mainly because it was never consummated - it stayed light and unimportant in a way. I can't even say that it was love! A liking/attraction/understanding, maybe. I thought it was refreshing, actually.
It also managed to stay a subplot (and didn't take over the movie) and it made for a really powerful last scene.

[–] diverdwnn 12 years ago

I agree with you 100% on this Val Fly.

[–] gmansi 9 years ago

by Val_fly » Mon Jun 4 2012 10:48:49 Flag ▼ | Reply |
IMDb member since February 2012
I actually liked how they worked it in, mainly because it was never consummated - it stayed light and unimportant in a way. I can't even say that it was love! A liking/attraction/understanding, maybe. I thought it was refreshing, actually.
It also managed to stay a subplot (and didn't take over the movie) and it made for a really powerful last scene.

Great answer!!

[–] TheCineSinge 12 years ago

Yeah it wasn't needed but at least it didn't go any further than it did. Just would have been too Hollywood in a film that didn't it.

[–] jet19957 12 years ago

If you want to see a truly horrible love-interest, check out Primal Fear. It seriously took away from the film for me.

[–] near_sea 12 years ago

i wont comment on her career..but agree with you on the point of including her in the movie....its like "danny archer" changed his point of view all of a sudden because of this girl..or as if love makes people sacrifice their whole life .....surely there could have been other motivation behind his sudden change of behavior.When someone is making a movie on a serious issue they should make it more logical.Did it seem like someone who had such a tough life as Archer's could all of a sudden sacrifice his life for Solomon & his family? and if we dig deeper i don't think he did it for them ...until at the end of the movie when he got shot and knew that there's no chance of his lasting any longer...he made the choice of giving the diamond to them.He dint do it for the girl.nor the fisherman.

[–] thenmadewild 8 years ago

I don't think he changed his ways completely at all personally. He remained on basically the same path and with the same goal (get the diamond, get out) throughout the movie. Only difference was by the end he started to question his overall life path somewhat. I don't think he sacrificed his life for Soloman though, he just knew he didn't have a chance anyway. If Soloman tried to carry him they'd probably both get shot because they'd be slowed down, so at that point he told Soloman to get out of there and save himself and his son. It wasn't a choice between "live or sacrifice my life for others" so much as choice between "die alone, or cause all three of us to die and have this whole mission be for nothing" IMO

[–] dragon_x 12 years ago

I was happy this movie did not have the typical love story, where confused boy meets girl. Confused boy learns life lessons, in part, because of said girl. Less confused boy then gets the prize, the girl and everything else...

[–] professormcg 12 years ago

To be damn honest, the subtle love-plot is what made the movie for me.

I aplaud discourse and abhor discourse-challenged trolls.

[–] anorthernstar 12 years ago

Me too. I also agree with Val- very refreshing take on the romance subplot, and though it seemed a little forced once in a while, it was engaging (perhaps in its ambiguity and anticipation) and the level of understanding between the two characters made it more than just thrown in there.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Count me in as well. I thought her character was well - written and I thought the relationship between Maddy and Archer was realistic and added interest to the characters given the circumstances in which they were surrounded. As Val indicated above, reintroducing her character towards the end only strengthened the conclusion, adding poignancy, but not sentimentality.

"I'm not feeling the love here, Danny."

[–] movie80 9 years ago

To be damn honest, the subtle love-plot is what made the movie for me.

20% for me.
The blood diamond story is still the key.
Great movie.

[–] bigBang8 11 years ago

Leo's character isn't dumb, Solomon said he would say anything to get what he wants... the part where Leo and that btich is drunk, he OBVIOUSLY says what she wants to hear to get a score... yes yes, just a movie, the characters are supposedly stupid, bye.

[–] she-escapes 11 years ago

I didn't mind the character of Maddy, though I wasn't a big fan of the Maddy/Danny relationship that was being pushed. That being said (and as others have already pointed out), it mostly sat on the backburner and never overtook the film. Of course I would have rather had Maddy be a kickass journalist who didn't end up fawning over DA at the end: i.e. the whole "What if I wanted to come with you/what if I insisted?" scene was a little sappy... but the purpose of her character was really just to peel back Danny's history, which she did well. Not my favourite subplot but still a refreshing take - as far as romantic subplots go.

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

would have been cool if she wanted to get married & the only diamond she thought was 'pretty'...was a blood diamond. oh the sweet irony.

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.

[–] jpmkam 11 years ago

Not it wouldn't have been better with the 'love interest'. That's what made Danny's last scene with Maddie so powerful.