"CONSTANTINE", a spiritually demonic Noir film

Rating: 7/10 (8 February 2005)

After seeing 3 commercials for it during the superbowl and various versions of the trailer in the theatre I just thought this was a lame action packed capitalization on Keanu's action star status.
Boy was I wrong.
After familiarizing myself with the comic a bit before seeing the film, my hopes for the overall tone of the film were set. I knew what it should have been and what it shouldn't have been.
Constantine I would describe as a Biblical Apocalyptic Demonic Noir Film. There's very little "action" in the film, and when there is action it's very necessary and not at all gratuitous. Keanu surprisingly has the right look for the part and does a good job of avoiding those Ted Theodore Logan mannerisms we all recognize. His performance is stoic, disturbed, straight and well executed.
My only miff about the film is that the pacing towards the end is so slow and dragged out that the whole climactic feeling and rush that we should have in such scenes is sucked out of us. Peter Stormare is brilliant as Satan, Gavin Rossdale is surprising good as the demon Baltazar and that one chick from The Mummy although speaking with a strangely low voice does a worthy job.
Lawrence's direction was well done, with some influence we can see from our man Terry Gilliam. But every shot is interesting and that's what I look for in a good director.
Overall, I recommend this film, just be wary that it was influenced by a DC Comic and is ALL FANTASY! I believe Neil Gaiman even contributed to one of the comics in the past, so many of us may be interested in this subject. I only hope that a film like this can open some doors for Good Omens to be made.