The Constant Gardener Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 2412

Average Rating: 2.8/4

# of Ratings: 162

Theatrical Release Date: 08/31/2005

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Thriller

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, Hubert Koundé, Danny Huston

Plot: After his wife dies in Africa, a quiet diplomat begins to investigate her death and uncovers a conspiracy by the British government and a powerful drug company. -- Chris Kavan

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/04/2019

Although thought-provoking and undeniably tense, I never really found myself as interested in "The Constant Gardener" as I wanted to.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 06/04/2012

A bold film that finds a humanitarian chord that rings most powerfully. Even better than the strong performances is the film's unwavering portrayal of the horrific crimes against the African people. The film is, at first, slow-building, but becomes a coherent and intriguingly poignant portrait of a wartorn nation by the end.

Yojimbo - wrote on 05/21/2012

A british diplomat uncovers a conspiracy involving corruption within pharmaceutical corporations performing illegal trials in africa while investigating the death of his wife. This beautifully shot but ultimately rather dull drama is typical of the kind of worthy but sterile and unaffecting cinema Fiennes has made his bread and butter. It's very well made, intelligent and well acted by the fine cast of respected thesps, but it's overly talky and uninvolving in the same way as many of the cold war films of the 70s and 80s (probably because it is based on a novel by John Le Carre who was responsible for a lot of them.) Interesting but never compelling, although the heartfelt ending is worth persevering for.

KingInTheNorth
Producer

The Constant Gardener

KingInTheNorth - wrote on 07/18/2013

After the wife of a English diplomat dies under mysterious circumstances he starts to investigate and by himself become haunted.
This movie has so much reality in it. Cruel reality. The plot is just so great. Drama, thriller, action and crime all packed into one movie. I really, really loved the book by John LeCarré. It is one of my favorites. The acting in the movie is perfect Ralph Fiennes is on top of his game and Rachel Weiszz giver her best performance ever. Oscar was deserved. The only problem of this movie was Fernando Meirelles. Some call him the best director of all time, some call him an amateur. For me it is just headache. Ten different angles in twenty seconds. Then shake here, shake there. Ahh, I had to watch it in two goes. The movie is brilliant and totally suspense but …

MovieAddict
Producer

Thought provoking!!!

MovieAddict - wrote on 09/22/2012

Ralph Fiennes plays a reserved British diplomat Justin whose wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) is an activist working in an African community. She becomes aware that a drug company is testing an experimental drug on the population there and that people are dying because of it. Then she is found murdered near Lake Turkana but who did it???

Justin is haunted by the suspicion that his wife had been unfaithful in the months preceding her death. He knows that she had been working with local AIDS activists in Kenya, but after her death he decides to look into the matter a bit more carefully, deciding against leaving the matter in the hands of the British High Commission, for which he works. He soon begins to realize that she was on to a big conspiracy so he starts to investigate himself, but then …

kustaa
Producer

Can actually only one person make a difference?

kustaa - wrote on 11/12/2007

Just as Gavin Hood, Fernando makes he's first movie after winning the Oscar. I found this one a bit better than Rendition, wich, it's very similar. Hood goes against the US, and you find in this one a little, but still solid kick to british outside policy.
I loved this movie (although, is not by any chance as good as City of God) because it's complete. You have the not politically issue, treated until the end, and it somehow works the ending better than Rendition. I keep comparing the movies because, althought the treat 2 different subjects, are very similar in spirit. The director has a wonderful eye for putting the camera in the right place, and also a fantastic use of colors. I'd had need a bit more of strong acting, but, overall, it was everything fantastic.