Diamond Men

2001 Drama

A veteran salesman is forced to make way for a young drummer and has some improbable adventures along the way in this comedy-drama. Eddie (Robert Forster) has worked for over 30 years as a travelling jewelry salesman, but after he's stricken with a heart attack, he discovers he's no longer eligible for insurance. Given the fact that he routinely travels with a stash of goods worth up to a million dollars, this development means that he's going to have to give up working on the road. Bobby (Donnie Wahlberg) is the young salesman who is first in line to take over Eddie's route. Though Eddie doesn't think much of reckless Bobby, he takes him on the road to show him the ropes. As they spend some time together, Eddie takes a liking to Bobby, who wants to show Eddie his gratitude for teaching him how to sell in the big leagues. Bobby takes him to a combination roadhouse and brothel for an evening's entertainment, but things get sticky when jewel thieves track the two men to the club. Diamond Men also features Bess Armstrong and Jasmine Guy as a pair of working girls Eddie and Bobby meet in the course of their adventures. more..

Director: Daniel M. Cohen

Starring: Robert Forster, Donnie Wahlberg, Bess Armstrong, Jasmine Guy, George Coe

Reviews

  • A great little film, dignified by a superb performance, Diamond Men is a gem.

    Desson Thomson - The Washington Post

    19 January 2013

  • Genuine, amusing and, best of all, humanly scaled and humanely oriented.

    Stephen Hunter - The Washington Post

    19 January 2013

  • This film is extraordinary on several counts: its knowledge of an arcane trade (Mr. Cohen ran his family's diamond business after his father died); its fondness for telling good life stories; and, above all, its superb starring performance.

    Joe Morgenstern - The Wall Street Journal

    19 January 2013

  • It looks and listens to its characters, curious about the unfolding mysteries of the personality. It is a treasure.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • Riding a mood that's tilted to the jazzy blues that Eddie prefers to Bobby's blasting rock on the car radio, Diamond Men is a sparkly film that's easy to love.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor

    Chlotrudis Awards (2002)

     
  • Robert Forster

    Hamptons International Film Festival (2000)

  • National Board of Review (2001)

  • Dan Cohen

    Stony Brook Film Festival (2001)

  • Best Community Television Production

    West Australian Screen Awards (2006)