Forster finally gets the kind of Gene Hackman-like star part his revived career deserves, and he does himself proud.
Diamond Men (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:62
Fresh:50
Rotten:12
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: Robert Forster's tour-de-force performance, along with Daniel M. Cohen's sensitive direction and subtly shaded screenplay, brings rare heft to this mentor/protégé buddy film.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Sep 7, 2001 Limited
Synopsis: Eddie (Robert Forster) is an aging traveling diamond salesman from the old school of dealers who developed longstanding relationships with their clients and prided themselves in their knowledge of... Eddie (Robert Forster) is an aging traveling diamond salesman from the old school of dealers who developed longstanding relationships with their clients and prided themselves in their knowledge of the trade. He is faced with a demotion when the new management of his company deems him too high a risk for carrying their expensive cache of diamonds. His last assignment is to train a rookie salesman, Bobby (Donnie Wahlberg), whose only job experience is in servicing vending machines and whose cocky sales tactics promise to alienate Eddie's hard-won clientele. Needless to say, the relationship between the two men gets off to a less than amiable start. Eventually, though, the two find that each has something valuable to offer the other. DIAMOND MEN represents an impressive contribution to Daniel Cohen's early directing efforts. The film's quirky plotline and sincere, understated character portrayals are a winning combination. The unlikely match of Wahlberg and Forster creates a wonderfully funny tension that eventually blossoms into endearing friendship. [More]
Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Robert Forster, Bess Armstrong, Jasmine Guy
Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Robert Forster, Bess Armstrong, Jasmine Guy, Kristin Minter, Kate Forster, George Coe, Nikki Fritz, Glen Phillips
Director: Daniel M. Cohen
Director: Daniel M. Cohen
Screenwriter: Daniel M. Cohen
Producer: Daniel M. Cohen
Composer: Garrett Parks
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Reviews for Diamond Men
When [Forster and Wahlberg each] turned out to be acquainted with a lady of the evening whose real job is dispensing spiritual and financial wisdom, the cliches were too blinding for me to overlook.
Sacrificing excellent characters to an ultimately lame payoff, Diamond Men's potential as a diamond in the rough turn out to be more 'rough' than 'diamond.'
The line between positive senior characters and irritating grotesqueries makes the proceedings first unpleasant and then insufferable.
While this may not be a diamond-in-the-rough, it's certainly better than cubic zirconium - it's a likeable film that fizzles at the end.
A small, quietly effective portrait of male bonding...sharply written, observant, and rather sweet.
Wahlberg shows poignancy, and Forster simply walks through the movie oozing effortless soul.
There's too much genuine affection at work here -- between the salesmen and for them -- to resist.
Pacing and story problems aside, this is as fine a showcase for Forster, Armstrong and Wahlberg as they could want, a real actor's picture.
... yet another variation of the mentor-protege movie -- and one of the best.
Cohen obviously knows the dealings and dangers of the diamond trade, but instead of creating an interesting study of that world, he prefers to venture into the obvious and ridiculous.
It's a little movie with a great big selling point: Robert Forster's subtly nuanced and effortlessly engaging portrayal of Eddie Miller.
The characters lapse into cliche, and the dialogue suffers from a droning malaise.
Cohen is himself a former 'diamond man,' which is no doubt why this world has been so perfectly realized for the screen.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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