The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener is the movie of the moment. While highly praised by the critics, I think it’s a bit over-rated. Unfortunately, in a summer where most of the movies have been over-hyped disappointments, The Constant Gardener is an okay movie that just happens to look better than the competition.
The first 2/3 of the movie does involve the audience and the story focuses on three characters, Justin and Tessa Qualye, and their friend Arnold Bluhm. Most of the movie is set in Kenya and the circumstances of these three people are revealed through flashback sequences that are inter-cut with present time. This is a movie where you do have to pay attention and think.
We start with the murder of Tessa, and then watch how her husband uncovers the reason for Tessa’s death and finds out about her secret research to stop the evil pharmaceutical company. There are few acceptable villains these days but with the top of mind focus on Africa and the lack of affordable medication, the drug conglomerate and all the top executives become easy targets. The plot is believable up until the final third of the movie, when the movie suddenly changes direction and becomes an over the top sequence of espionage, deceit, and coincidences. To top it off, what had been a story that was set in Kenya and was about people, suddenly becomes an exaggerated look at the horrible living conditions and how can we as the audience turn a blind eye to what is going on?
As always, there are bad people doing bad things to other people at any given time, anywhere in the world. The Constant Gardener could have been a great movie but the sudden change of direction in the last act takes on the form of someone’s personal social commentary on the political and social situation in Kenya.
If you want to think during your next movie, skip this one and go see The Great Raid instead. It’s a better movie, has heart, and is based on a true event.
The first 2/3 of the movie does involve the audience and the story focuses on three characters, Justin and Tessa Qualye, and their friend Arnold Bluhm. Most of the movie is set in Kenya and the circumstances of these three people are revealed through flashback sequences that are inter-cut with present time. This is a movie where you do have to pay attention and think.
We start with the murder of Tessa, and then watch how her husband uncovers the reason for Tessa’s death and finds out about her secret research to stop the evil pharmaceutical company. There are few acceptable villains these days but with the top of mind focus on Africa and the lack of affordable medication, the drug conglomerate and all the top executives become easy targets. The plot is believable up until the final third of the movie, when the movie suddenly changes direction and becomes an over the top sequence of espionage, deceit, and coincidences. To top it off, what had been a story that was set in Kenya and was about people, suddenly becomes an exaggerated look at the horrible living conditions and how can we as the audience turn a blind eye to what is going on?
As always, there are bad people doing bad things to other people at any given time, anywhere in the world. The Constant Gardener could have been a great movie but the sudden change of direction in the last act takes on the form of someone’s personal social commentary on the political and social situation in Kenya.
If you want to think during your next movie, skip this one and go see The Great Raid instead. It’s a better movie, has heart, and is based on a true event.
