Python Hyena
The Constant Gardener (2005): Dir: Fernando Meirelles / Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Hubert Kounde: Extraordinary thriller set in Africa about finding information. In this case, Ralph Fiennes must learn why his wife and her black lover were murdered. Plot mostly visualized through flashbacks with Fiennes and Rachel Weisz meeting leading to her infidelity and pregnancy. Central plot regards Fiennes searching for answers as to why she was murdered and the dangers he heads towards as her work in Africa becomes too focused. Very sad outcome concludes a detailed screenplay with director Fernando Meirelles giving vent to the hardships in Africa. Fiennes does a fantastic job as his crushed emotions give way to the willingness to complete his wife's work. Weisz is well cast as his wife whose mission was a secret to Fiennes although he comes to appreciate what he truly missed about her. Supporting roles seem more standard than anything. Danny Huston plays the British high commissioner on the scene, and Bill Nighy plays the head of the foreign office. Hubert Kounde plays a doctor first suspected of the murder he is found murdered. One can assume that this doesn't end well but the film is beautifully shot with strong themes regarding hardships of other cultures and carrying on what others began while burying damaged memories. Score: 8 / 10
carbuff
A watchable disappointment. This film is slow, but I like plot development, so that didn't bother me much; however, the frequent extended flashbacks became jarring and annoying. The premise was weak too. First, I believe that large drug and medical device companies are in the business of making money, not saving or improving lives--that's just how they make their money. Second, executives reach the top due to ambition, aggression, manipulation, and supreme but generally unjustified self-confidence, not because they're the most competent, most accomplished, or the best and most visionary leaders. But still, they are narcissistic and greedy, not truly evil or completely stupid. Given those two realities, the level of malfeasance in this movie is just too unrealistic for anything more than a James Bond flick. Assuming the initial conspiracy and cover-up depicted in this film succeeded, the absolutely inevitable, intense, in-depth investigation of this literally fatally-flawed product that would have followed after it's widespread distribution and concomitant deaths would inevitably have brought the entire shaky house of cards down. The very self-interested C-suite execs might not be the geniuses they think they are, but they would definitely foresee the criminal, not just civil, prosecutions that they themselves would eventually be facing. They simply wouldn't be this blatantly, transparently, and unquestionably evil with absolutely no plausible explanations or excuses to hide behind. Not to mention, once the problems started showing up, the company's net worth would have been vaporized along with their compensation. (A lot less severe problem than this nearly did in Merck.) While I guess it's still possible that high-functioning sociopaths might risk the monetary loss, the near certainty of a cold, hard, jail cell is another thing entirely. So you've got a slow, long, disjointed, nonlinear movie built around an unrealistic premise, but, on the other hand, the cinematography and acting are both very good and the film is emotionally powerful (actually too maudlin). Might be good to watch with your girlfriend though--it'll show how sensitive you are.
