Review of The Constant Gardener (2005) by Allen B — 28 Mar 2010

Sprawling and complex, with a great performance from Rachel Weisz that's simultaneously goofy and tragic. I also enjoyed the complete shift one of the characters makes in the minds of the audience about a third of the way in. You don't see that often in films.

It's also well shot. The cinematography is beautiful, and, unlike the director's previous film, "City of God," actually shows some restraint every once in a while. Not too many excessive and inappropriate camera shots here. Looks like he's learning.

The only thing I didn't quite buy was the big "conspiracy" slowly revealed in the film's later parts. It's interesting at first because, well, it's a mystery, and Ralph Fiennes is on the case, but once the pieces start to fit, at least those that make sense, they seem too ridiculous to buy. At least for me.

Still, whatever, it's a crazy conspiracy movie. It's well done and entertaining throughout, and, as mentioned before, Rachel Weisz is great, and sexy, although not in the pregnancy scenes. I also really enjoyed how they handled the ending.

Overall, pretty good conspiracy film, even though the "reveal" was a bit silly. Go watch.