LeCarre's Novel Makes Substantial Film
Added 11/5/2009
A good measure of the pleasure in this film derives from its African focus both in sight and sound. Shots of the people in their homeland and recording of their musical heritage provides flavor to many the the scenes. Beyond that we are treated to fine acting by both leads (Fiennes and Weisz) as well as by the supporting cast. The action is taut as first the wife and then the husband search out the link among a number of health organizations engaged in research into the efficacy of a new drug to combat TB. Death, violence, racial intolerance and bureaucratic face-saving are all part of the dramatic stew. Happily, sufficient evidence for alternative interpretations and moral judgments on each lead characters behavior and outlook. Thus we have an interesting film rather than a sermon to the already converted.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Well done, heavy on the politics though...
Added 6/29/2009
I will admit that I wasn't sure if I really liked this movie until a couple of hours after watching it. It's pretty deep - "The Constant Gardener" is a play on words it took me a while to "get". It moves very slowly and is dark and humorless, for the most part.
But, I did end up liking it. Very sad, very timely and will make you think. The book never interested me, I may pick it up one day... who knows... but the story was told well and the actors did a really great job. It's pretty heavy politically, but also has a little bit of a love story - a man who gets to know his real wife, but only after she's dead.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Hated it!
Added 2/16/2009
From the bad cinematography to the under developed characters, and most of all to the stupid plot. I think this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen! I cannot even begin to understand the 4 and 5 star reviews. The whole "issue" isn't even truly a major issue about Africa to begin with. They are badgering the pharmaceutical companies and not the corrupt governments that are keeping the people of that continent in constant poverty? Give me a break!
1 out of 5 people found this helpful.
|
Mind Your Business
Added 12/23/2008
So there's this guy (Super Hot Ralph Fiennes) and he's giving a lecture at this college as a favor for his British diplomat friend. This stupid cow, Tess, completely humiliates him during the lecture in front of a class full of people. He's like totally devastated at being humiliated like that and decides to get full-on revenge on her. To get even, he comes up with a brilliant plan to marry her and take her to the poverty ridden cease pool of Kenya under the guise that he's a diplomat with the British government. In actuality, he's really just a gardener for a real diplomat named Sandy who truly falls in love with the co-ed who humiliated the gardener who gave the lecture in the first place.
But uh-oh. Now she's been murdered along with the gay black guy she's best friends with in Kenya. See, she got bored just sitting around Africa all day and started emailing the charitable drug companies who were providing drugs and vaccines to the Kenyans who can't even afford clean water, threatening them saying she was going to get them in some sort of trouble. She's causing difficulty for them the same way she humiliated her poor innocent gardener husband.
Just guess what happens next.
Well, I guess I already told you. She gets murdered.
Ralph Fiennes is very hot in this film and so if you are an aficionado of Fiennes than this is a must-own. Ralph even started something called The Constant Gardener Trust because when he was in Africa he was shocked and appalled that the Africans didn't have basic sanitation and he wanted people to have a way to donate money so that decent sanitation methods could be built. Never mind the guy has millions sitting around in off-shore accounts and could have easily done the entire continents sanitation needs himself. He'd like you to help. Google, "The Constant Gardener Trust." I did.
If you don't care for Fiennes and are irritated by African music, British accents and bright colors, stay away from this film at all costs.
1 out of 6 people found this helpful.
|
Well made Africa-has-issues flick
Added 11/25/2008
Liked "Blood Diamond"? This one concerns drug companies testing new drugs with fatal side effects, only life is cheap in Africa. So there's a coverup. Actually, the film is a love story. Very well made, quick paced, lots of jerky camera work trying to give the illusion of immediacy. You don't have to be a bleeding heart to appreciate the quality of this film.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
LeCarre's Novel Makes Substantial Film
Added 11/5/2009
A good measure of the pleasure in this film derives from its African focus both in sight and sound. Shots of the people in their homeland and recording of their musical heritage provides flavor to many the the scenes. Beyond that we are treated to fine acting by both leads (Fiennes and Weisz) as well as by the supporting cast. The action is taut as first the wife and then the husband search out the link among a number of health organizations engaged in research into the efficacy of a new drug to combat TB. Death, violence, racial intolerance and bureaucratic face-saving are all part of the dramatic stew. Happily, sufficient evidence for alternative interpretations and moral judgments on each lead characters behavior and outlook. Thus we have an interesting film rather than a sermon to the already converted.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Well done, heavy on the politics though...
Added 6/29/2009
I will admit that I wasn't sure if I really liked this movie until a couple of hours after watching it. It's pretty deep - "The Constant Gardener" is a play on words it took me a while to "get". It moves very slowly and is dark and humorless, for the most part.
But, I did end up liking it. Very sad, very timely and will make you think. The book never interested me, I may pick it up one day... who knows... but the story was told well and the actors did a really great job. It's pretty heavy politically, but also has a little bit of a love story - a man who gets to know his real wife, but only after she's dead.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Hated it!
Added 2/16/2009
From the bad cinematography to the under developed characters, and most of all to the stupid plot. I think this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen! I cannot even begin to understand the 4 and 5 star reviews. The whole "issue" isn't even truly a major issue about Africa to begin with. They are badgering the pharmaceutical companies and not the corrupt governments that are keeping the people of that continent in constant poverty? Give me a break!
1 out of 5 people found this helpful.
|
