Everybody Loves Diamonds

Where do I start ?

If you speak English and try and watch this nonsense on Amazon Prime with English subtitles .....forget it. The dialogue is subtitled so badly that whole chunks of conversation just do not appear. This makes it basically unwatchable.

There is poor dubbing but who wants to listen to that ?

This whole Italian production looks shoddy and half-hearted.

I don't know what Amazon are thinking putting it on Prime. Did nobody check the content before giving it the Ok ?

It's no wonder that it has only one review as I write so in my opinion just find something better watch tonight , they have plenty more decent thrillers available.

I recently delved into a new TV series on Prime, a promising account of a true story with an Italian backdrop. Excited to witness the reenactment of events that unfolded within the Italian context, my anticipation turned to dismay as I navigated through the series.

The first red flag emerged when I decided to toggle between the Italian and English versions. Regardless of the language, the acting fell flat. The main characters, portrayed by Italian actors, failed to deliver convincing performances, leaving the viewer disconnected from the narrative. It's disheartening to witness a true story, inherently rich in emotion and authenticity, marred by subpar acting.

The inadequacies became glaring in both languages, underscoring a pervasive issue with the actors' portrayal of pivotal characters. While the original events were distinctly Italian, the execution by the cast was anything but authentic. The lackluster performances overshadowed the potential for a gripping narrative, rendering the series a mere shadow of the true story it aimed to depict.

The dialogue, a crucial element in storytelling, suffered greatly in this production. Unreal and stilted, the exchanges between characters felt forced and contrived. It was evident that the actors struggled to convey the depth and nuance required to breathe life into the script. The disconnect between the dialogue and the emotional resonance needed for an impactful storytelling experience was palpable.

What is perhaps most disappointing is the deviation from the actual events that unfolded. The real story, with its complexities and nuances, was evidently sacrificed for dramatic effect or misguided creative decisions. This departure from the truth not only disrespects the source material but also robs the audience of the opportunity to engage with a genuine account.

It's puzzling that a platform like Prime, known for its high-quality productions, would greenlight a series with such glaring flaws. The substandard acting, unrealistic dialogue, and deviation from the actual events collectively contribute to a disheartening viewing experience. A true story, when adapted for the screen, should strive for authenticity and accuracy, ensuring that the essence of the narrative is preserved.

In conclusion, the TV series on Prime, despite its potential, fails to live up to expectations. The Italian actors, despite their nationality, deliver performances that fall short of the mark. The dialogue lacks authenticity, and the deviation from the true story further compounds the disappointment. It's regrettable to see a potentially captivating narrative undermined by poor execution. In the realm of true-story adaptations, this series stands as a cautionary tale of how missteps in acting and storytelling can detract from the essence of a remarkable tale.

This is the review of the English dubbed version. Despite the lips not matching well at times, the dubbed English voices are done very well and convey the character's individual mannerisms very well. It is also a homage of sorts to the earlier Italian crime movies from the seventies also dubbed in English.

The story is told from various different parts of the timeline before and after the robbery but is easy to follow and quite exciting in each episode.

The acting is good but quirky enough to irritate a large segment of viewers used to the stiff monochromatic and one dimensional characters of modern movies. The lead investigator is very good despite being a bit of a racist - again cast in a playful manner against the stereotypical role that Hollywood would assign. And our hero or ant-hero - the mastermind is determined, funny and yet almost righteous in his quest for greatness.

A fun caper movie to be enjoyed by those who appreciate character and pay less attention to authenticity of the real events this is based on.

This is loosely based upon a true story: The Antwerp Diamond Heist of 2003.

Leonardo Notarbartolo (Kim Rossi Stuart) a small time burglar finds a way to rob the Antwerp Diamond Center. He gathers a team to do this: Gianmarco Tognazzi as Ghigo, a friend and Alarm Specialist, Carlotta Antonelli as Sandra, a Lock Picking Specialist, Leonardo Lidi, as Alberto, and is Leonardo's brother and a Hacker.

The story will go back and forth between the Present and the Past and will show up as so many days before the Heist and so many days after the Heist. This gives all a good understanding of the characters thinking during these times.

Since this is based upon a true Heist in 2003 - (okay loosely) - it is noted that the loot of about $100 million in diamonds, gold, jewels etc was never recovered and remains missing to this day. All in all this is quite intriguing and you will learn some of the methods the Team used to gain access to the Diamond Center and confuse the authorities.

The instruments used in the robbery were put in bags to be disposed of. And it is here that an invoice was found in one of the bags in the woods, that showed Leonardo's name on it and Mertens (Johan Heldenbergh) the detective in charge of the investigation has Leonardo arrested. No, this is not over.

Notables: Anna Foglietta, as Anna, Leonardo's wife and who later joins the Team; Synnove Macody Lund as Judith, the CEO of the Diamond Center; Rupert Everett as John Lovegrove, the lawyer who acts on behalf of the people whose diamonds were stolen and he tries to convince Leonardo to talk and perhaps save his life and his wife's life.

If you want to learn more about the 2003 Heist Go to Wikipedia and type in Antwerp Diamond Heist.

There are some twists and turns and one really big one at the end. Ha!

Violence: Not really. Sex: No. Nudity: No.

Humor: Some in places Language: Yes.

Watched at: Amazon Prime Video. There are 8 Episodes.

Rating: A (9 of 10) 31 Jan 2024.

Everybody Loves Diamonds is a great series. It's intriguing and full of humour.

Please ensure you set the subtitles to 'multiple languages' so there is no dubbing. This way you get the real expressions from each language in the drama. I have noticed that some people have marked it down because they chose the wrong setting for the subtitles.

I was unaware of the real story that the drama was based on so for me it was a new story. This didn't deter me from watching and i am glad I did. The added graphics add to the style which along with the cool soundtrack made quite slick viewing.

Just watch and enjoy.