Diamonds (1999)

26% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
31% of users liked it
(1,344 ratings)

A elderly man and his estranged son search for treasure and try to repair their relationship in this bittersweet comedy. Harry Agensky (Kirk Douglas) is a one-time welterweight boxing champion who lives in Canada with his son Moses (Kurt Fuller). Harry's other son, Lance (Dan Aykroyd), feels that… More A elderly man and his estranged son search for treasure and try to repair their relationship in this bittersweet comedy. Harry Agensky (Kirk Douglas) is a one-time welterweight boxing champion who lives in Canada with his son Moses (Kurt Fuller). Harry's other son, Lance (Dan Aykroyd), feels that his father never really cared about his dreams and ambitions, and now Lance has little affection for his Dad. However, Lance's relationship with his teenage son Michael (Corbin Allred) is not faring much better. Lonely since the death of his wife and infirm due to a stroke, Harry wants to retire to a ranch in Northern Canada, but he can't afford the property. Lance invites Harry along for a skiing trip with Michael; Harry agrees, but at the last minute he talks them into going to Nevada instead. Harry claims he threw a fight years ago and was paid off in a cache of diamonds that he hid somewhere in Vegas; if he can find the gems, he'll be able to buy the ranch. Lance is dubious, but he gives in to Harry's determination and the three head for Nevada, hoping to find both the diamonds and some common ground. Diamonds was Kirk Douglas's first film after a life-threatening stroke in 1997; Lauren Bacall appears in a small role as a madam in a Nevada brothel, marking her first appearance onscreen with Douglas since Young Man with a Horn in 1950. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: John Mallory Asher
Written By: Allan Aaron Katz
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 10, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jul 18, 2000

Critic Reviews

Joe McGovern, Village Voice
Inappropriate for audiences of all ages.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Kirk Douglas is still the champ.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The star's courageous performance is the main attraction of a movie that shamelessly pours on the sentiment.
Elizabeth Weitzman, Film.com
Diamonds can be proud of its achievement as the ultimate primer on elderly embarrassments and the best ways to exploit them.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
A sub-par effort in family drama with Kirk Douglas barely registering above his usual excellence
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Douglas struggles honorably with his stoke-impaired speech and a shoddy story.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
I have to admit I shed some sentimental tears during the movie, so it's not really very bad at all, but it could have used a script polish.
Eric Gordon, IFilm
Sadly, Kirk Douglas' real-life stroke is the most compelling ingredient in Miramax's new cobbled-together caper flick.
Bill Pearis, Citysearch
Even in his prime, Douglas couldn't have saved himself from this cliche-ridden script.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Wince-inducing dialogue.
Chuck Walton, Hollywood.com
Simply a pleasure.
Mac Verstandig, Stage Newspaper
A thoroughly enjoyable piece.
Valerie Kuklenski, Los Angeles Daily News
Douglas, still vigorous at 83, carries the film with one of the best performances of his long career, probably because many of his scenes are straight from the heart.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Cast

Kirk Douglas
as Harry Agensky
Dan Aykroyd
as Lance Agensky
Corbin Allred
as Michael Agensky

Lauren Bacall
as Sin-Dee
Kurt Fuller
as Moses Agensky
Jenny McCarthy
as Sugar

See full cast