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-In the 60's, before the age of cable TV,
the Internet, and global communications, I think
there was this idea that if the American people
only knew some of the horrible things going
on in the world, they would rise up, revolt
and demand change. Wasn't that what the 60's
idealism was really all about? The revolutionaries
and protesters worked to inform and educate
people about injustices and the genocides that
were going on in the world because they felt
the goodness of people would overcome any evil
oppressors in the world and change for the better
would ultimately prevail. Basically, we believed
that people cared and that, once informed, they
would act.
The foolishness of this ideology is more
than blatantly obvious in modern times. People
do not care. The American people are quite aware
of the evil and horror that goes on not only
in the rest of the world but in their own country
and they simply do not care. I, my friends,
am no better or worse than anyone else in America.
To get me to care about something takes a freight
train full of injustice and, not only that,
it better relate to something I care about -
like homophobia or constitutional freedoms.
This disaffection and disinterest makes
"The Constant Gardener" the kind of film that
preaches to the choir and holds little interest
for most of its intended audience. We don't
care. Based on a John Le Carre novel, the film
is about a pharmaceutical company doing some
evil in Africa, a country so far removed from
most Americans' realm of experience that it
might as well be the moon.
Ralph Fiennes stars as a diplomat whose
politically active and liberal young wife has
been killed after spending much of her time
helping a young African doctor in neighboring
villages. After her death, Fiennes, who has
been fairly apolitical and demure for a diplomat,
goes on a quest to discover why his young bride
was murdered. The obvious conclusion to this
journey is pretty evident after about 90 minutes,
but the film drags on for another 40 more, meandering
through a story with a climax that most of us
will see coming and simply shrug our shoulders
at when it arrives.
Even with Fiennes fine acting and the help
of Pete Postlethwaite, Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz
and some other fine British actors, the film
seems like a waterlogged political drama with
more emphasis on the political than the drama.
At least there are, at times, some beautiful
images brought forth by director Fernando Mierelles
echoing the saturated colors and bright reflections
evident in his debut film, "City of God." But
Mierelles' politics are fully in evidence here
as well as he spends much time focusing on young
African faces and the squalor of the local villages.
Look, I know I should care but, let's face
it, I'm a typical American; I don't. "The Constant
Gardener" was pretty much a constant bore, like
going to a meeting held by a bunch of "Amnesty
International" zealots or reading a copy of
"Mother Jones" cover to cover. I should have
went to the theater next door and watched "Deuce
Bigalow: European Gigolo." Now that's a movie!
"The Constant Gardener" wants you to care but
all it really does it guilt you into feeling
like shit for not doing so.
Notes:
Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts were offered
the role that eventually went to Weisz. She
beat out Eva Green and Kate Winslet, both of
whom wanted to do the film.
Viewed in Austin in August of 2005.
Report Card
Script: D+
Acting: C
Cinematography\Lighting: A+
Special Effects\Make Up: A
Music: C
Final Grade: D-
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