| Show Constant Gardener Works from Ground Up Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times Times' John Le Carre has been a writer of literate thrillers almost as long longas as Brazilian director Fernando has been alive He is a master novelist of the traditional school while witness his Oscar-nominated Oscar City of GodS God has a jumpy edgy ultramodern ultramodern ultra ultra- modern modem filmmaking style Their methods shouldn't mix but in inThe iThe The Constant Gardener assisted by superior acting by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel and an outstanding supporting cast they've joined forces to create a film that grips us dramatically intellectually and emotionally As it turns out the novelist translated to film by screenwriter Jeffrey Caine and the director have several things in common including powerful storytelling gifts and the will to make a difference difference difference differ differ- ence in the world For if Le Carres Carre's concern with the unhealthy influence of multinational multinational corporations makes Gardner an unusually meaty thriller he is matched by passion for socially committed and intrinsically dramatic dramatic dramatic dra dra- matic filmmaking Their collaboration collaboration collaboration ration results in an intricate yet intimate piece of work that is disturbing disturbing disturbing dis dis- dis- dis for all the ri right ht reasons In addition to unfolding a mightily mightily mightily might might- ily affecting love story wrapped in ina a complex whodunit plot iThe The Constant Gardener poses some stimulating questions In a world where complicity in chicanery is the rule what does it take to make a difference what is the price individuals must pay for their idealism idealism idealism ide ide- And where market forces rule with an iron hand what is the cost to society for being in thrall to unbridled corporate lust for profit Like the novel film smartly edited by Claire Simpson an Oscar winner for Platoon goes back and forth between the present and the past as Fiennes' Fiennes midlevel British diplomat diplomat diplomat diplo diplo- mat Justin Quayle characterized by Le Carre as la is a Foreign Office plodder investigates the suspicious suspicious suspicious cious death of his impulsive and unstoppable wife Tessa an activist firebrand who was everything he is not Le Carre is completely at home in inthe inthe inthe the world of duplicity betrayal and the scenes intrigue and the film continually benefits from having his densely plotted novel and its textured adult characters characters characters char char- as source material And because Justin by virtue of his personality and the complexity of his quest is initially well over his head in his investigations his mental state is a good match for forI I the disorienting visual style and cinematographer Cesar Charlone create Using held hand-held to create intimacy Charlone enables us to connect on a visceral level with Justins Justin's confusion his sense that what he needs to know is just out of reach Its It's hard to think of an actor other than Ralph Fiennes who could bring Justins Justin's mixture of timidity and attractiveness so convincingly to life A career diplomat who goes where hes he's told Hike a Labrador someone witheringly says Fiennes' Fiennes Justin not only radiates decency consideration and unfailing politeness he makes those qualities sexy Until he hc meets Tessa the only outlet for his considerable energy and passion is meticulous gardening Completely inhabited by Tessa has the kind of personality that could make even Gregor Mendel forget about his plants It Itis Itis Itis is perhaps the most fully realized performance of her career Tessa a woman who burns about injustice and believes I that the world could be changed if people cared enough has no difficulty speaking truth to power and sticking sticking sticking stick stick- ing her nose in places in this case the shenanigans of certain international international international companies the establishment establishment establishment establish establish- ment wishes she Though Fiennes and carry the lions lion's share of the films film's emotional emotional emotional emo emo- burden iThe The Constant Gardener wouldn't be a fraction of the film it is without expert supporting supporting supporting sup sup- porting work across the board Especially noteworthy are Bill as an impeccably bloodless pillar of the establishment Danny Huston as Justins Justin's oleaginous boss Gerard as a bluff business tycoon and Pete as the mysterious Lorbeer The Constant Gardener keeps the books book's somber tone though it does add on a bit more of an upbeat ending But let no one I doubt the extent of Le Carres Carre's and social concern Practically the last thing viewers see is the novelists novelist's screen on-screen fusillade Nobody in this story and no outfit or corporation thank God is based upon an actual person person person per per- son or outfit in the real world But ButI I can tell you this as my journey progressed I came to realize that by comparison with reality my story was as tame as a holiday postcard I You have been warned |
