University of South Carolina Libraries
MOVIE REVIEW Political\ social issues might soilpowerful acting in *Gardener * “The Constant Gardener” Fernando Meirelles ★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ IRarjorie Riddle FOR THE GAMECOCK “The Constant Gardener” is not for the light-hearted. Packed with political and social implications, the fictional plot coupled with very real issues will leave some viewers overwhelmed. When it comes to issues, the movie painstakingly asks many questions but provides very few answers. While this might have been the point, whatever director Fernando Meirelles wanted to accomplish with his film remains unresolved by its conclusion. Ralph Fiennes plays Justin Quayle, a British diplomat who meets his political and romantic match in Rachel Weisz, an impassioned woman who challenges him to be more proactive. The two venture into a rash marriage and move to Africa, where Tessa gets involved with a poverty- and disease stricken community. At the beginning, the audience learns Tessa is tragically killed in conjunction with her goodwill efforts. Her identity is revealed through Quayle’s memories. Before her death, Tessa suspects the medicine a pharmaceutical company issues might not heal the sick but kill them instead. When she is killed, she is crusading to uncover the company’s immorality through exhaustive research and investigation. Quayle decides to vindicate her death by finishing what she started in hopes to learn more about why and how she died. An adulterous undertone surrounds Tessa throughout the movie. It is insinuated she becomes involved with her close friend, a doctor aiding her in her investigation. She also appears to be promising sex to a close friend of Quayle’s for information. The viewer remains unsure if they are supposed to like Tessa for her determination in her work or if they are supposed to dislike her for her seemingly malevolent disregard for her marriage. As Quayle gets closer to the truth surrounding Tessas death and the controversy of the pharmaceutical company, he begins to jeopardize his own life. The ending of “The Constant Gardener” does not bring adequate closure to the intensity of the issues raised in the film. While political and social aspects of world disease and corruption of governments are most likely supposed to incite viewers, it only leaves room for more debate, not solutions. The movie serves its purpose in raising serious questions but muddles this effort by incorporating unnecessary melodrama. Weisz provides a great performance as the zealous and fiery Tessa, and Fiennes is moving and entirely convincing as the tormented and grief stricken Quayle. Their performances alone make the film worth seeing. Meirelles does what he can with the script, providing a promising and compelling story, but the movie is inconsistendy paced. Supposedly a dramatic thriller, it has too much drama and not enough thrill. While the thickness of the issues create plenty of drama, there were many opportunities to create real thrills which remain unused. The film is quick in establishing the story of Tessas murder but slow during Quayles investigation -of why she was murdered. The conclusion proves to be even slower. Meirelles achieves the much needed nostalgic tone with variations in lighting by making flashback scenes' appear cloudy. „ This effect enhances the audiences understanding of the Quayles’ happiness and love. If moviegoers can get past timing discrepancies and can digest the heavy issues incorporated in the plot, they should consider seeing “The Constant Gardener.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@givm.sc.edu Today “ I AM SAM”: 8 p.m. Russell House Theater. BROWN BAG KARAOKE HOSTED BY BILLY: 9 p.m. New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. Free. “SAVING FACE": 7,9 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St. $5.50 with student ID. Art Bar Players: 8 p.m. Art Bar, 1211 Park St. Over 21 only. Saturday “I AM SAM”: 8 p.m. Russell House Theater. TESTING GROUND, QUENCH, BEAM, THE HOTTNESS: 9 p.m. New Brookland Tavern. $5 under, $7 over 21. “SAVING FACE”: 3, 7, 9 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. $5 matinees, $5.50 evenings with student ID. Sunday “I AM SAM": 8 p.m. Russell House Theater. THE LETTER RED, MINUS MEMORIES, THE HOLLOWPOINT STORY, GOODNIGHT PROVIDENCE: 7 p.m. New Brookland Tavern. $3 over 21, $8 under. “SAVING FACE”: 3,7,9 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. $5 matinees, $5.50 evenings with student ID. CROSSWORD ■ i ACROSS 1 Eye makeup 8 Demonstrator’s sign 15 Fearful 16 Wyoming city 17 Authentic 18 Whip up 19 Italian treats 20 Acacia crawlers 22 Played the part 23 Free-for-_ 25 Outback bird 27 Snake warning 28 Playground structure 31 Hypnotic state 33 Tennis official 35 Put off-guard 39 Biblical vessel 40 Charlie Parker’s instrument 41 Biddy 42 Kind of ride 43 Wanton destruction 45 Weather rw?iC!!°n ©2005 Tribune Media Services, Inc. 09/09/05 47 Open up All rights reserved. UO/UO/UU 49 Wetland ou uuanog 53 “_to a 9 Hang behind Solutions Nightingale” 10 “Quando rapita ^_ 54 Vampire, for one in estasi,” e.g. A A A A A A AMaIaIA A A A A 55 Pin placement? 11 Nets S l d _0 d 3 dWs 3 d n O _3 A 57 Art style of the 12 Italian u'VT 1 0 N A 7T A V S v ’20s violinmaker TTo-V ■ n'BTTT'w T 59Fit 13 Religious 63 Generally ceremonies IBIAAI^BAAAB^^^^ 65 Muddy 14 Scout’s good A A A A ABA A ® A AJAJb - 67 Handcuffs works AAA 3 3 d O 3Ih|a v w 68 Gunshots 21 Coastal bird A ° ThIY 3 TTlBx v "§"■■"* d v 69 Birthday offering 24 Reduce v\l d v | s i "all^ v l/\l S 3 N i 3 70 Sgt. Friday’s 26 Below ■■■T A TTTV TTTBTa'TTA sh°w 28 Shut noisily 29 Old Italian coin iiAAlMAllAllll down 30 very black A A A A AMa aH AMI A A A 1 Balthazar, 31 Part of VAT A A AAA A AHA A A A A A A Caspar and 32 Multiplex 3 I W V d V ~3"M"cT 3 v\i d V 3 V Melchior 34 Tito Puente’s a d v o v 3 TBv a”v o s v w 2 Hollywood music ——— ——————— Baldwin 36 Propped open 3 Compos mentis 37 Ex-Supreme 48 Most peculiar 58 Bean_(tofu) 4 Papal war 38 Legendary 50 Necklace 60 Swiss capital 5 French friend story connector 61 Tardy 6 Kidney-related 41 Steamy 51 Modern beam 62 Prefix for while 7 Arabian seaport 44 Arm bone 52 With speed 64 Spy novelist ■ 8 Blood bank 45 Run away 54 Stupid mistake Deighton supply 46 L.L. Bean book 56 Artificial bait 66 IRS employee Quigmans ♦ By Buddy Hickrrson I Hey! we pon’t HAve To pcppnd l ON FoRElGNeRS' FOR OIL/ WQ f 'S COULD JUST DRILL INTO 's-—v th»s oUve! plifljp1 CwttiNG- /ou ( OFF, flfc. PfcesiPeNT. The oil crisis goes to level green. A College Girl Named Joe ♦ ByXxxxx Xxxxxxxx PARK. 1 WAS HOPING IT WAS THE SHIRT. HOROSCOPES ARIES You look good in a uniform. Yours is the sign of service. Investigate the myriad of possibilities. TAURUS Progress seems to be slow, but actually, you’re just busy thinking. You and a loved one can figure out a successful plan. GEMINI Continue to ponder and analyze the assignment you’ve been given. Watch out for changes and misunderstandings. You don’t want to do the wrong thing. CANCER The conflict between others will be solved by them. Stay out of it unless they specifically ask your opinion, which is rather unlikely. LEO Accept whatever’s offered from one who is in a generous mood. You’ll find a good use for it, and soon. VIRGO As you get into the next few days, things will start moving quickly. Figure out what you want to accomplish. LIBRA Every bill you pay in full gives you that many points. When you get 10,000 points, you can celebrate. SCORPIO Tempers flare between two extremely stubborn individuals. You might have to make a concession, but hold out on the most important points. SAGITTARIUS Be very careful around sharp objects and poisons. That includes all that toxic stuff in your garage, by the way. CAPRICORN You’d like to be two places at one time, and you might do a pretty good job. You’ll be kept hopping later, however, doing the chores you’ve postponed. AQUARIUS Stay cheerful, even in the face of tough competition. Stall for time. Tomorrow the odds are much more in your favor. PISCES Don’t ignore your fears or feel ashamed of them in any way. They’re perfectly sensible, and they can keep you from getting into trouble.