The Constant Gardener

Seen at 9:50pm on October 2, 2005 at the Old Capitol Mall, I was looking forward to watching Ralph Fiennes in a new movie after his 3 year film hiatus (the last movies he starred in prior to this year were Maid in Manhattan and Red Dragon, both in 2002).

The film begins showing scenes from how Ralph Fiennes' Justin Quayle character, a diplomat for the British government, meets his future wife Tessa played by Rachel Weisz. The first few shots show them parting as she leaves for the last time before her death, then how they initially met, how he learns about her death, all are interwoven together as a train of images and encounters to show his deep love for this relatively inegmatic woman.

One of the reasons why Ralph Fiennes is a terrific actor can be seen throughout the film such as a scene when he is told about his wife being missing and possibly dead. The camera pans over his face for a lengthy pause, while the expression on his face and in his eyes shows a man slowly dying inside. This man is very quiet, deliberate, slow in his actions and what he does. More suited to tending plants and diplomacy than investigation, he is forced through his love to seek the truth behind his wife's death.

The movie is likewise slow and deliberate at many points, which does detract a bit from the story. It isn't always terribly exciting, but the performances and the material itself make up for the rough spots.

In the end, I am very glad to see Mr. Fiennes back in films. His performance is excellent and the movie earns a good rating on the scoreboard. It might not be everyone's cup of tea due to the pace, but it is worthwhile if you stay for the ride.

Please feel free to comment on this review or on the movie itself at the forum thread devoted to it at this location.