No sympathy from the viewer

Rating: 3/10 (4 April 2005)

I was really impatient to see Constantine even despite universally expressed contempt for it, because I'm really fond of Keanu Reeves. Well, I'm sorry to say it, but it proved everybody to be right, for it contained neither plot that you cannot laugh at, nor outstanding special effects to make up for it. Alas, the idea was great...
However, I'm tempted to say a few words in Constantine's defense. Everybody is eager to blame Mr. Reeves for his acting but to me he appeared the only one who's consistent with his part. His character is the most developed and sound in the whole story (maybe because he gets to speak for himself?). Completely another thing is that unfortunately (or luckily, it depends) he is doomed to wear ''The One'' stamp all over his person. One can do nothing about it - The Matrix was a once-in-a-decade, groundbreaking film. Here, he's the one who attracts interest and whenever he's on screen you cannot take eyes off him. He is really a character, you can identify with him and feel for him.
The others, including Rachel Weisz, Gavin Rossdale, etc. could be called 'awesome' (but honest to God, I wouldn't know why), but it's not clear why are they in this movie and what's their point in it. There's nothing outstanding in their performance to me, since I don't see them as characters - just some actors doing their work. They don't manage to get any sympathy from the viewer, no matter how brilliant they are.
In short, actors are not to blame, they tried to save everything they could but lost the battle against the scriptwriter, director and producer. Too bad.