Blood Diamond, music by James Howard

Leonardo Dicaprio starred in this film about the diamond trade in Africa and how "blood diamonds" are mined in war zones and used to finance revolutions and civil wars. This film takes place in Sierra Leone where a civil war raged from 1992-2002. Lots of gore in this film so if you get queazy at the sight of blood and gore just listen to the pretty music which is outstanding.

Jennifer Connelly plays the role of a journalist and Djimon Hounsou, the same actor who played a major role in AMISTAD, is a Mende fisherman who is kidnapped and forced to mine diamonds for a warlord. The movie was nominated for five Academy Awards but did not win: Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio; Best Supporting Actor - Djimon Hounsou; Best Film Editing - Steven Rosenblum; Best Sound Mixing - Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Ivan Sharrock; and Best Sound Editing Lon Bender.

Listen to the music by clicking below....

James Newton Howard is an American composer who has scored over 100 films including such great movies as Pretty Woman, King Ralph, Dave, Wyatt Earp, Falling Down, Liar Liar, and the Sixth Sense among many other. These are just some of the films I have seen and really like.

Howard was nominated for an Academy award for the following scores; The Prince of Tides, The Fugitive, Junior, One Fine Day, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Village, Michael Clayton, and Defiance.

Another very beautiful version is on YouTube but cannot be embedded here, so try listening at this url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blN3Ar2WJJ4.