I was rather frustrated with this film because it nearly was very good. The performances were technically faultless, though personally I would have preferred a more demonstrative interpretation of his role than the one given by Fiennes. He just was not desperate enough in his search for the truth about his wife and was the polite diplomat throughout. For me it did not quite work, though there were moments of great tenderness, which he played very well. I would stress that I only question the interpretation of this particular role rather than the ability of Fiennes as an actor, which is obviously top drawer.
The rest of the cast played their parts very well, but save from some isolated scenes there was insufficient suspense and several big chances were missed. This was quite some achievement by the Director as Fiennes was being followed for most of the film and was brutally attacked in his hotel bedroom. The only time I felt really worried was during a small scene outside a school when you felt something dreadful was going to happen to a young child, plus the decision to leave a little girl behind from the plane in the Sudan. Why Fiennes did not adopt her on the spot to save her life as a tribute to both the work and memory of his wife was an inexplicable weakness of the plot. That theme would have worked much better than the eventual ending.
Where the film did score was to give emphasis to those who already perfectly well knew it and for others who do not pay attention to their modern history, that there is massive corruption at government level, especially in Africa and with any big business that link the two. The film correctly portrayed that there would be little hesitation in disposing of anybody "who knew too much," a factor that may make people at least think twice about some mysterious deaths in history and politics, when they are explained as suicide.
I enjoyed the film but I shall not watch it again, which is a pity. The Constant Gardener was very well acted, interesting, while the scenery was both realistic and, at times, breathtaking. Ultimately, however, it was a film which never got into top gear and despite having countless opportunities failed to get me on the edge of my seat. Throughout the film I was just too comfortable when I should have been in a state of continued tension. A chance missed here and a film with definite potential for a superior re-make in about ten years.
Michael Dixon, United Kingdom
The rest of the cast played their parts very well, but save from some isolated scenes there was insufficient suspense and several big chances were missed. This was quite some achievement by the Director as Fiennes was being followed for most of the film and was brutally attacked in his hotel bedroom. The only time I felt really worried was during a small scene outside a school when you felt something dreadful was going to happen to a young child, plus the decision to leave a little girl behind from the plane in the Sudan. Why Fiennes did not adopt her on the spot to save her life as a tribute to both the work and memory of his wife was an inexplicable weakness of the plot. That theme would have worked much better than the eventual ending.
Where the film did score was to give emphasis to those who already perfectly well knew it and for others who do not pay attention to their modern history, that there is massive corruption at government level, especially in Africa and with any big business that link the two. The film correctly portrayed that there would be little hesitation in disposing of anybody "who knew too much," a factor that may make people at least think twice about some mysterious deaths in history and politics, when they are explained as suicide.
I enjoyed the film but I shall not watch it again, which is a pity. The Constant Gardener was very well acted, interesting, while the scenery was both realistic and, at times, breathtaking. Ultimately, however, it was a film which never got into top gear and despite having countless opportunities failed to get me on the edge of my seat. Throughout the film I was just too comfortable when I should have been in a state of continued tension. A chance missed here and a film with definite potential for a superior re-make in about ten years.
Michael Dixon, United Kingdom