Underrated supernatural noir

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2016)

I have a soft spot for the 2005 adaptation of Hellblazer's Constantine, starring an out of left field Keanu Reeves as the smart ass, chain smoking demon hunter. Yeah, he's a far cry from the sassy, blonde and severely British incarnation from the source material, but oddly enough it works with Reeves (helped along by the fact that I have no nostalgia for the comics, and went into this one without previous knowledge of the mythos). Reeves is a sulking badass as John Constantine, a man with extreme supernatural proclivities who dedicates his days and nights to stopping the terrifying legions of the dead, who walk the earth in many forms. He's a jaded, cynical loner whose last ounces of life force go into his work, his only companion being chatty cab driver Chazz (Shia Lebeouf). He's also terminally sick with lung cancer, putting additional strain on his body as well as his heaving soul which is a blinking target for all kinds of demonic forces who have their eyes set on him. When a desperate homicide detective (Rachel Weisz) gets caught up in a spooky situation involving the suicide of her sister (also Weisz), John steps up to her side to both protect and assist her in keeping the darkness at bay, which this time threatens to put the hammer on humanity big time. Plot is appropriately pulpy, with darkly comic exposition from Reeves in all the right places, mixed in with some neat special effects. The atmosphere impressively paints an inky black, suffocating tone of otherworldly noir that almost calls to mind entries like Blade Runner and The Crow, albeit lite. The supporting cast contains many strange friends and foes for John, including eccentric ally Beeman (Max Baker), an alcoholic schlub of a priest (underrated, shifty eyed Pruitt Taylor Vince), slickly nasty demon Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale), underworld kingpin Papa Midnite (Djimon Hounsou radiating superb charisma) and Tilda Swinton as a sneering, androgynous Angel Gabriel. Another performance I must note is Peter Stormare as Lucifer, in one of the funniest, most memorable film incarnations of the role I've ever seen. Stormare always has a wonky way about him, his dialogue delivered flippantly, juxtaposed with a cold, constant gaze that could melt flesh. Put to work as the Devil, he makes magic, playing him as a giddy, white suited, tribal tattooed lunatic with a restrained menace that only hints at the archetypal fury beneath. Reeves makes a surprisingly cool Constantine (lol I may get some hate for saying that), and besides the fact that he's not much like what the comics envisioned, he carries this version along just fine. The holy hand grenades are a highlight, as well as many other creative touches both bold and subtle that go a long way.