Verdict
Summary
A fairly standard poliziotteschi drama / thriller from Italy, Blood & Diamonds really comes alive in its outstanding hand-to-hand fight scenes between Cassinelli and some thugs in the movie, one of which goes on for what seems like a full five minutes.
Plot:
A hoodlum is sent away for five years for something he was set up for, and when he gets out, he’s hell bent on revenge.
Review:
After a completely botched robbery for the mafia, Guido (Claudio Cassinelli) is railroaded by the courts, and his boss (Martin Balsam) and the entire mafia turns their backs on him while he goes to prison for five years. When he’s eventually released, his boss wants him to go straight back to work, but with a chip on his shoulder and a bone to pick with the entire world, he refuses. By chance, he’s out with his girlfriend on a bus when the public transportation is hijacked by some crazed gunmen, and instead of sitting idly by, Guido becomes a hero and kills all the gunmen and saves everyone on the bus … except his girlfriend, who is shot dead in the back. Realizing that he’s been targeted for death, Guido has to recalibrate his revenge when the cops try recruiting him to bring down the mob, but shirking all allegiances to everyone, he coolly calculates his plan of revenge, even if it means bringing down the temple walls all around him in the process.
A fairly standard poliziotteschi drama / thriller from Italy, Blood & Diamonds really comes alive in its outstanding hand-to-hand fight scenes between Cassinelli and some thugs in the movie, one of which goes on for what seems like a full five minutes. While the plot and execution by writer / director Fernando Di Leo leaves a little to be desired, the action is something to write home about.
88 Films recently released a Blu-ray edition of Blood & Diamonds and it brings the film to a vibrant 4K restoration with deep filmic textures and consistency. The film comes with a slipcover, a reversible sleeve, a double sided foldout poster, a commentary, and much more. This one is worth picking up and adding to your collection.
