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Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-12-14 06:57:19 +0000

Constant Gardner

Not a great film. Odd love story, uninspired chronological moves, and about as much action as 'Out of Africa'. Ralph Fiennes is fine as Justin Quayle, but Rachel Weisz is better as his young wife, Tess. Put bluntly, Tess disappears in Kenya, and we see their love grow in flashback as Justin goes on the chase while tending gardens in England and Niarobi. Does the movie invent anything? Nothing really stood out. It's part 'Under the Sand' part 'Bourne Identity', but not better, and the pharmaceutical company bad guys are less tech savy as those in 1993's 'The Fugitive'. (Yes, I looked up how to spell pharmaceutical.) No one is boring, and we get Pete Postlethwaite for a few mintues (always a treat), but nothing gels. It might have been a real achievement with a tiny budget, as gritty British drama about Africa, Big Pharmacy, and love. But not with $40 million. I can see how this was a popular book, but it won't be bring home any Oscar this year. (C)
Posted by pamsterdam on 2005-12-14 07:17:32 +0000
That's a real shame. I love Rachel Weisz & Pete Postlethwaite, so was hoping for big things. Out of curiousity, what did you think of the Quiet American (from a few years back)? I loved it, and for some reason have been expecting a similar calibre from this film.
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-12-14 08:46:23 +0000
The Quiet American had a mystery aspect to it, much more than this film. Similar movies I would agree, but Quite American was probably better.
Posted by Travis on 2005-12-15 10:23:20 +0000
heres my funny Pete Postlethwaite story: Was in a pub once and looked over and Mr PP was at the next table reading a newspaper. The waitress brought him over a pint of guiness and a bowl of soup. He asked her for a straw. He then proceeded to carry on reading his newspaper whilst alternating his straw between his soup and his guiness until he finished both with loud slurping through the straw and left definate nominee for greatist living englishmen
Posted by pamsterdam on 2005-12-15 13:09:23 +0000
Oh, God bless England and her many eccentric natives! *dreamy sigh*
Posted by Null Protocol on 2005-12-15 13:56:31 +0000
Approx 2 months ago, I was in an American Mall (tm) when a gentlemen w/ a clipboard approached me and before I knew it, I was participating in an approx. 45 min focus group talking about the DVD release of the above titled film. Even though I hadn't seen it, they wanted to know what I thought of the cover art, the photos on the cover / the font / the color scheme. What "bucket" or "peghole" I would put the film into going on the actors, title, and cover alone. We also discussed whether or not I would purchase said product or rent it, at what price I would do that at, what other similar products I enjoyed and how many DVDs I owned. Naive me: I thought by doing this at the end of the session there would be something in it for me: tickets to a free screening or a DVD or something. Nope. Nada. One of the stranger American Mall (tm) experiences I have had. Lets keep the under 18 crowd out and populate it with clipboard marketing people (arent these guys loitering too? they arent buying anything... I guess you could argue that the clipboards are delivering info to large companies that are making a buttload of $$$ for the malls)
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