Meirelles Creates Masterpiece

While the last week of August is usually reserved for releasing the final cinematic flops of the season, there is a sole diamond in the rough, coming in the form of "The Constant Gardener." Directed by Fernando Meirelles, the same man whose powerhouse film "City of God" earned classic status upon release, "Gardener" is the kind of follow-up film that we expect to be great and truly ends up being just that. \nBased on the novel by John Le Carré, "Gardener" unravels as a political thriller wrapped in a romantic veil. Ralph Fiennes plays Justin Quayle, a British diplomat who holds territorial responsibilities in Kenya and falls in love with a political activist named Tessa (Rachel Weisz). The film automatically begins with her passing -- found dead in an overturned Jeep suffering severe burns. Only after this fateful introduction can we begin to see how Justin and Tessa's relationship blossomed. \nWhile Justin is busy tending to his garden, Tessa uses her husband's career to go about visiting Africa. She learns of the squalor villagers are forced to live in. She meets individuals who could easily fix problems but choose to turn a blind eye. But she also seems to believe a much greater medical conspiracy is unfolding. And only through Justin's persistence will he find the answer to why his wife was killed and more importantly what she really was fighting for. \n"The Constant Gardener" evokes performances of the finest caliber. Ralph Fiennes undergoes a powerful transformation as the humor his character possessed while his wife was still alive is completely drained from him. He becomes alienated from everyone he knows and his job's duties, instead choosing to become the activist Tessa always wanted him to be. The performance Weisz gives is finally one worth merit, especially after wasting her talents on films such as "Constantine," "Runaway Jury" and the foolish "Mummy" flicks. She haunts Fiennes' dreams in the film, and we can grasp onto his emotions. The supporting cast also does a fine job, especially Danny Huston and Bill Nighy, whose performances push their leading actors to the top. \nThe story is equally powerful. It brings our attention to the kind of problems that African nations face on a day-to-day basis. Famine, political upheaval, nomadic terrorism and medical conditions such, as AIDS and tuberculosis all have place in this film. While all of this is within a thriller, the messages conveyed are clear as day. \nDirector Meirelles brings to the table a unique vision that I hope remains in all of his films. Choosing to use handheld cameras for most of the film, he creates the kind of documentary style found in "City of God" that makes us feel as if we are there with the characters. As the camera is surrounded by the faces of young children, we are there standing with them. We gaze out at the beautiful African landscapes from a plateau that is really just the floor of the theatre. \nGraceful, provocative and even romantic, "The Constant Gardener" is a film worth your attention. We finally have another Oscar contender to add to the list, especially in the categories of Best Director and Best Actor, and it is easily one of the best pictures of the year.