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By CityThe Constant Gardener
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The Constant GardenerA Film With A Message
2005-10-05
Article Written by: Sami Jo
Focus Features (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Vanity Fair) has earned a reputation for delivering original films to movie loving audiences. The Constant Gardener is an independent film that exposes international pharmaceutical companies' practice of testing products on the citizens on Kenya. The drugs tested on the Kenyans are often harmful and in need of more work before they are in safe for the public. Tessa Quayle (played by Rachel Weisz who starred in Runaway Jury) secretly worked to expose the pharmaceutical companies until she was assassinated in an attempt to keep her quiet. Unaware of her investigation, Tessa's husband Justin (played by Ralph Fiennes who starred in Maid in Manhattan) sets out to find out why his wife was murdered - and in doing so, compels the viewer to take an active role in fighting injustice by showing a part of the world most American's can't relate to.
While the film's message was noble, it did tend to drag on to the point where you had plenty of time to focus on how much the movie theater chairs make your butt hurt. Another problem with the film is the lack of on-screen chemistry between the main characters. The tagline of the film is "Love. At Any Cost.", but Fiennes and Weisz are just not believable as a couple. Fiennes and Weisz separately are fine actors, but together they only detract from the film. Also the Blair Witch Project-esque erratic camera movement makes this film less than suitable for the easily queasy.
Event with the lousy execution, the film contained a number of important messages that rattle the viewer even more than shaky camera movement. Messages intended to remain with you long after the numbness in your butt subsides. Final thought: Despite its flaws, The Constant Gardener is worth seeing- if only for its messages of dedication and compassion.
