Today’s quick review: The Constant Gardener. Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a British diplomat to Kenya, embarks on a dangerous investigation after the murder of his wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz), a political activist who was on the trail of a major scandal. His investigation forces him to confront a pattern of abuse and neglect from the companies and aid organizations he once trusted.
The Constant Gardener is a political thriller about corruption within the British aid efforts to Africa. Tessa’s death serves as the catalyst for Justin to involve himself in problems he once turned a blind eye to, tugging at the loose ends of her life to determine what she knew and why she was killed. The Constant Gardener is headlined by a pair of capable actors and characterized by a sober portrayal of real-world issues.
But for all of its potential, The Constant Gardener suffers from a few significant flaws. The most noticeable of these is that it lacks a sympathetic protagonist for most of its first half. Tessa’s character is undermined by her strident, politically radical personality and signs of her infidelity, while Justin is a bland character who does not begin to develop until his wife leaves the picture.
Once the lengthy setup is out of the way and Justin begins his investigation, the movie straightens out into a decent political thriller. The clues are well-crafted, and Justin makes for a fine protagonist once he has something active to do. But The Constant Gardener is as much a propaganda piece as it is a thriller, and it tackles issues that are too weighty to allow for any sort of catharsis.
For those who are interested in politics in general or African affairs in particular, The Constant Gardener is a grim look at the potential for abuse among international aid efforts, all wrapped around a competent thriller plot. The execution is sound, and those who are on board with the tone and subject matter will find it to be a fine watch.
Those who are simply looking for a good thriller are better off looking elsewhere. The Constant Gardener has a slow start, unlikable characters, and a current of real-world politics that drags down an already-dark thriller plot. The Constant Gardener offers little action, little catharsis, and almost no entertainment value.
7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a bleak, unappealing story.