movie review

Watched preview of ‘The Constant Gardener’ yesterday. Think it’s a great show, but I guess most will find it draggy and boring. A friend once told me that popular flicks required 2 types of content: sexual and violent. Well, this show has a teeny bit of both, but not exactly the focus. It’s supposed to be a romantic show, within a thriller. Though you can sense the love between the couple of the show, it’s unlike most romance shows where there are lots of kissing or bed scenes. The intense feelings between the couple is subtlely (spelt this way?) presented to the audience. As for violence, there are gunshots and killings and murders and blood, but not exactly a really violent show like Gladiator or City of God. Anyway, the main storylines I get:

1.       pitiful Africans who are being used as ‘guinea pigs’ for testing of medical products

2.       the rich-poor divide

3.       how lousy the UN is

4.       those richer and stronger unwilling to help those in poverty and in need

5.       those rare few who want to help get silenced

6.       the extent to which commercial corporations will go to for $$$

7.       many truths in our society been concealed

If I didn’t remember wrongly, it’s the same director that made City of God, which is another show that depicts how poverty caused the violence in most poor areas. That was a great show, despite the bloody scenes and never-ending gunshots. Don’t know if this show was in the cinemas back then, since I watched it off a DVD.

Would recommend ‘Constant Gardener’ only if you’re those who love thought-provoking shows. Else, I can bet you will fall asleep.