Constantine
Despite all the negative buzz, ‘Constantine’ is surprisingly enough, a cute, ooky little action movie. It features some creative cinematography, although a few of the shots can come across as too affected. The film boasts some effective use of disturbing imagery, and the demonic special effects are damn good for CGI.
I’m only a horror-nerd, not a full-blooded geek. Therefore, I really can’t comment on how loyalty to original comic the film is, although I’ve heard there are a lot of fanboys up in arms. (So what else is new?) Standing on its own, the plot doesn’t fare too badly. The film starts up right in the middle of things, and really doesn’t feel the need for long bulky lumps of exposition in order to explain its fragmented story. You might think this is a complaint of mine, but it’s just the opposite. I like being treated like a grown-up who can figure things out for myself every now and then. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, and things can get downright confusing at times. Even after completing the film, I’m still a little foggy on what “half-breeds” are, and the mechanics of the film’s cosmology are never fully explained. Even if it is a bit murky, it’s still an enjoyable little flick. (However, I did feel that the plot really lost direction towards the end.) The best thing I can say about the story is that it didn’t bore me, even if it wasn’t particularly well-told.
The cast is unremarkable either way-neither outstanding nor howlingly bad- aside of course from Peter Stormare’s very, very weak portrayal of Lucifer. (No real slight on him, he was miscast, misdirected, and given one of the most difficult roles any actor can attempt.) Keanu Reeves’ performance is spotty at best. This is actually a pleasant surprise; I was well expecting him to be terrible. I really don’t care what any apologist has to say, Reeves is a lousy actor, and any time he gives even a half-assed performance is like Christmas. Rachel Weisz is a very talented actress, and is great in just about everything she does. I really don’t know why she occasionally crosses over from high-brow drama to do silly little action films like this, but I respect her all the more for it. Also, Tilda Swinton is neat. Not as Gabriel anymore than any other role, she's just neat in general.
All in all, ‘Constantine’ is not as bad as you would think. Unfortunately, that’s the most glowing thing I have to say about it.
5.5
10/17/05