I had little inclination before The Constant Gardener's 2005 Golden Globe Nomination for Best Dramatic Motion Picture to see this film at all. In a year full of big action blockbusters, that were for the most part busts, nobody seemed to have time for the little guys. Movies like the Constant Gardener are one of the reasons that 2005 wasn't as bleak a year as people think it was. John Le Carre, who wrote the novel that the film is based on, has crafted many popular spy novels, and is one of the many hidden gems in the piles of literature lounging around the shelves at Indigo or Chapters. It's great to see his novel taken so seriously, and adapted by someone who has such great understanding not only of screen writing, but of Le Carre's original material. He does such a fantastic job adapting the book, one barely realizes he or she is watching a movie, as they get totally sucked into the rich and seductive story. Many kudos to director Fernando Meilles as well for defying the many Hollywood conventions in thrillers like this one, going big and bold with his photography and the way he cuts the whole thing together. The story, while complicated, is told quite simply, and is comprehendable, even to the very dim-witted. While the story and subject matter of the film are the obvious reasons to check this movie out, one of the many surprises along the way is the work of actors Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, who are very respectable actors, but have never done anything quite this good. They slip past the realm of acting and become these intriguing characters they play, and it becomes a real fun time watching these guys unravel the mystery and cover-ups behind a murder most foul, and a conspiracy involving pharmaceutical companies using Africans as guinea pigs. The material is actually quite intriguing and relevant in this modern world of ours, and the movie, unlike so many others this year, actually sends a message to the audience. Constant Gardener is a terrific film, paced badly at rare intervals, but beautifully shot and cut, and a definite top 10 of 2005.
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