The Constant Gardener

Extremely well done and superbly adapted, this movie is a great reward for those who tolerate the slow pace
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, and Archie Panjabi
Written by: John Le Carré (novel), Jeffrey Caine (screenplay)
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles

The Constant Gardener works exceptionally well as it provides multiple layers of metaphors, all of which are all fully developed to create a singular focus that once realized, makes the movie all the more engaging. The film relies heavily on flashbacks from multiple perspectives, but mainly that of Justin Quayle's (Ralph Fiennes) character as he struggles to piece together the unsolved mysteries that his wife had been so desperately seeking. Because of the expansive storyline, the movie at first appears to be incredibly dense, and the growing psychological tension from within comes from these scenes in which there appears to be very little going on, but it is within these same scenes that many of the clues are revealed. Each of the actors does an incredible job in their roles, carrying the film very well in a matter that's as equally subtle as the production of the film itself. This is especially true of Fiennes, Rachael Weisz, and surprisingly Bill Nighy, who takes on a presence so great that it can be felt in scenes which he isn't even a part of. Unlike most other thriller/crime movies, this is not the typical fast-cutting adrenaline rush, but rather a very subdued, almost documentary-style presentation that always relies on the subtext of Africa. For those that are willing to spend the time and the energy to go along with the careful observations of the stellar cinematography of the film are definitely in for an amazing and enriching story, just be sure that you know what you’re getting into.

★★★★½