The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 09, 2005, Page 7, Image 7
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
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47 Open up All rights reserved. UO/UO/UU
49 Wetland
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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
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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.