This weekend I was flipping through the channels because there was … nothing on … and stumbled upon The Constant Gardener starring Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes. And I quote:
A widower is determined to get to the bottom of a potentially explosive secret involving his wife’s murder, big business, and corporate corruption.
Okay, okay, so that doesn’t sound very original or intriguing, but! I shall defend this movie by saying that the acting is impeccable, Weisz allows us to view her naked body in a very pregnant state (she was pregnant in real life), and we are magically transported into the nightmare of every day life in Africa. The script is tight and easy to follow along with even though a bit of the plot is un peu compliqué, and the scenery contrasts vivid colors to the rawness of poverty. If you’re expecting a movie about gardening, as Hay jokingly said he was, you might be a bit disappointed, but there is a bit of gardening thrown in here and there. If you ever think you know what’s going to happen next in the plot you will find yourself very pleasantly surprised. I give this two thumbs up, 5 out of 5 stars, and the Cede seal of approval. This movie made me cry three times and need to pause part way through for a breather, but if you have an afternoon to snuggle up with a loved one (furry or not), a bowl of popcorn, and a box of tissues then I strongly encourage you to watch this movie.