Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by clarkjohnsen (R) on September 03, 2005 at 09:11:37

In Reply to: The Constant Gardener posted by RGA on September 2, 2005 at 12:02:52:

[caps is the way it comes, sorry.]

`GARDENER' SETTLES FOR FAMILIAR GROUND

TY BURR

RALPH FIENNES QUIETLY SHINES, BUT `GARDENER' MISSES A CHANCE TO PROVOKE BY TY BURR GLOBE STAFF WHO DO YOU MOURN FOR MOST IN ``THE CONSTANT GARDENER''? AUTHOR JOHN LE CARRE, WHOSE RICHLY INTELLIGENT THRILLERS HAVE BECOME MORE MORALISTIC AND LESS NUANCED AS THE COLD WAR FADES INTO HISTORY? BRAZILIAN DIRECTOR FERNANDO MEIRELLES, WHO HERE GETS HIS TEPID BIG-BUDGET REWARD FOR MAKING THE ASTONISHING ``CITY OF GOD'' IN 2002? OR IS IT THE TOPIC OF BIG CORPORATIONS ARROGANTLY USING AFRICA AS THEIR TEST LAB THAT'S MOST POORLY SERVED BY THIS MOVIE?

WILTED BOUQUETS ALL AROUND: ``THE CONSTANT GARDENER'' IS A PREDICTABLE CONSPIRACY THRILLER THAT SOMEHOW ENDS UP DIMINISHING THE REAL URGENCY OF THE WEST'S HUMANITARIAN DISCONNECT FROM AFRICA. IF IT SENDS AUDIENCES HOME TO LOG ON TO THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE, TERRIFIC BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MAKE IT A VERY GOOD MOVIE. SOME WILL THINK SO NEVERTHELESS, SEDUCED BY THE ANTIC POST-``BOURNE IDENTITY'' CAMERAWORK, BY THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FILM'S CONCERNS, AND BY RALPH FIENNES'S EXQUISITELY UNDERSTATED PERFORMANCE IN THE TITLE ROLE.

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