Constantine is a hell of a time

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2005)

It should have doomed from the start. A comic book movie, Keanu Reeves playing a British detective of the paranormal, angels and demons battling for the souls of mankind. Sounds like another day in Hollywood alright. Not to mention the fact that the movie was going to be helmed by first time director Francis Lawrence who had only music videos in his resume before this. Another Michael Bay? Thankfully no, and yes. No, that he doesn't cut up his movies till the inch of their lives, and yes that he has the ability to create box office gold from near impossible odds.
What's surprising about Constantine? To begin with, everything. Somehow the movie that should have failed as another attempt to cash-in on comic books and the phase that Hollywood is going through right now, actually brings us a thought out, action packed but still smart supernatural thriller that never makes a parody of itself, but neither takes itself too seriously.
The actors play their parts splendidly. Keanu is in top form in his first big post-matrix film, and while momentarily Neo shines through, Keanu proves himself as a good leading man once again. His Constantine is not the Constantine from the books, but rather a more human and vulnerable version of the character. A man who knows he has no time left and is doomed to Hell. Rachel Weiz plays a dual role as twin sisters Angela and Isabel. Though underused, Weiz plays her small role with conviction and subtlety. In other roles, Tilda Swinton is a marvel as the Angel Gabriel, even to such extent that it's a shame that we see so little of her character. Djimoun Honsou is Papa Midnite, the owner of the bar where demons and angels can take their own time out every once in a while. Convincing, but his part is more of a macguffin than fleshed out character in this part. As for the killer, Peter Stormare is possibly the best person to play the Devil himself. Morbidly hilarious, constantly threatening and oozing with evil, he is the manifestation of the most charming man you've ever met, and at the same time the most evil.
Action, some fine moments of actual thought, great set design and some wonderful acting make Constantine a great kick off for a hell of a movie year. It's the summer blockbuster of this late winter.
*****