Skip to main content

The Constant Gardner




2005
Directed By Fernando Meirelles
Starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz

Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz) is found murdered in a remote region of Africa in what appears to have been a crime of passion. Her husband Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) is haunted by the stories of her infidelities and something about her murder just doesn't quite add up for him. Everyone around John tells him to wait and the proper authorities will sort everything out but this is the story of how far one man will push himself to uncover the truth. 

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles tells incredibly intimate, personal stories that never feel small. His camera work in The Constant Gardner is brilliant. He uses multiple film stocks and cameras that are constantly moving to tell this story. While the camera work is impressive it never over-shadows the story, in fact the camera is used to underscore the emotional arc of our protagonists journey. I wouldn't say that the camera is a character in the film but rather it allows us a window into Justin's mind and thoughts. Flash backs are also used to great affect in the film, they give us a greater insight to Tessa and Justin's relationship and we understand why Justin is willing to push himself so far for the truth.

The film is wonderfully acted, written and directed. While the movie is based on the book by John le Carre it feels nothing like the other spy novels he was famous for. This is not a movie about espionage or political reconnaissance, this is film about love and loss. The stakes are not the future of the free world but something far more personal and in turn something far more interesting, the truth, that's what our protagonist is willing to risk his life for. And our protagonist is not something from an Ian Fleming novel or a Luc Besson movie. No, our hero is a gardener. A well mannered English gentleman who apologizes to the man who tells him of his wife's death because "that must of been hard to say." This is not Liam Neeson in Taken. 

Sometimes a movie passes you by. You rent it and return it without watching it. You want to see it. You mean to see it, but for some reason the timing is always just off and it never feels like the right movie for that moment. I had been putting off seeing The Constant Gardner for 9 years and it took me being assigned to watch the film to finally sit down and do it. I honestly have no idea why it took so long but I'm glad that I have seen it and I'm glad that I waited 9 years so could watch it through the eyes of a husband. Now its time to knock City of God off that ever growing to-watch list.

The Constant Gardner is streaming on Netflix 

Popular posts from this blog

Explaining the Ending of MULHOLLAND DRIVE

MULHOLLAND DRIVE is a complex and surreal film directed by David Lynch, known for its non-linear narrative and dreamlike sequences. The ending is open to interpretation and has been the subject of much debate among viewers. Here's a breakdown of the ending: Diane's Dream vs. Reality: Throughout the film, there are two main narrative threads: one follows Betty/Diane's dreamlike experiences in Hollywood, and the other delves into Diane's harsh reality. The ending reveals that the majority of the film has been a dream constructed by Diane Selwyn, a failed actress, as a means to escape the guilt and pain of her actions. Betty/Diane's Descent into Madness: Betty, played by Naomi Watts, represents Diane's idealized self—a hopeful and innocent aspiring actress. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Betty's story is unraveling, and her identity begins to merge with Diane's. This culminates in the revelation that Betty is merely a construct of Di...

Final Destination Bloodlines Set to Bring Fresh Horrors to the Franchise

The long-running and fan-favorite horror series Final Destination is set to make its return with Final Destination Bloodlines, bringing a new chapter of supernatural terror to the big screen. Scheduled for a theatrical and IMAX release on May 16, 2025, in the U.S. (and internationally beginning May 14), the film promises to continue the franchise’s tradition of chilling premonitions and inescapable fate. The upcoming installment features a fresh ensemble cast, including Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game, The Flash), Teo Briones (Chucky, Will vs. The Future), Richard Harmon (The 100, The Age of Adaline), Owen Patrick Joyner (Julie and the Phantoms, 100 Things to Do Before High School), and Anna Lore (They/Them, Gotham Knights). Also joining the cast are Brec Bassinger (Stargirl, Bella and the Bulldogs) and horror icon Tony Todd, who reprises his role from the original Final Destination films. Todd, best known for his chilling portrayal of the titular character in the Candyman fra...

4K Blu-ray Review: Drop (2025) — A Tense, Tech-Driven Thriller That Mostly Sticks the Landing

In Drop, director Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day) crafts a nerve-wracking thriller centered on a devastating dilemma: would you take a life to save the ones you love? The story follows Violet, a widowed single mom attempting to re-enter the dating world after years of grief and recovery. Played with emotional precision by Meghann Fahy, Violet finds herself on a promising first date with the affable and seemingly genuine Henry (Brandon Sklenar) in an elegant, glass-walled Chicago restaurant. But their evening takes a sinister turn when Violet receives a disturbing message via a sleek, anonymous app called DigiDrop: if she doesn’t kill her date before the check arrives, her son and sister will die. What unfolds is a tightly wound 95-minute thriller that feels both classic and timely. The film builds its suspense through confinement, not action. Most of the story unfolds in real-time at their dinner table, creating a pressure-cooker environment that reflects Violet’s psycholo...