The Constant Gardener (2005)

O An excellent must-see
O Good video rental
X Mediocre
O Rent something else

Review by Jason Pyles / June 8, 2007

This movie should have been called “Constant Attention,” because that’s what it requires. “The Constant Gardener” is one of those hurry-up-and-wait mysteries complete with twists, turns, murders, betrayal, lies, etc. Basically, if you don’t keep up, you’re lost.

Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) is a diplomat and a lover of gardening. (Yes, he sounds dreadfully dull.) But Fiennes portrays this character with such kindness and gentleness, that we latch on to him almost immediately.

Justin falls in love and marries Tessa (Rachel Weisz), a fireball of a crusader who is “all about causes.” The following is not a spoiler: Her secret life leads to her death. She was too deep into an investigation of a corporate drug company that uses “expendable Africans” as guinea pigs for its drug development.

After his wife’s murder, Justin begins to pick up her trail and tries to learn the secrets she was protecting him from. Naturally, Tessa’s killers find Justin to be a similar kind of irritant.

Although it is, at times, boring — and difficult to follow, “The Constant Gardener” has a moving moment when Justin starts to think (and even speak) the way his wife once did. Fiennes executes this moment perfectly.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles
Ralph Fiennes / Rachel Weisz / Hubert Kounde
129 min. Mystery / Drama
(Original MPAA rating: R)
Edited version age recommendation: 12 and up

DVD release date: January 10, 2006
Copyright 2007.
JP0122 : 198