Constantine

Rating: 8/10 (20 August 2008)

In 2005 Francis Lawerence, who most recently made I am Legend, directed an adaptation of the Hellblazer comic series simply titled Constantine. At the time there was an outcry from the fans because their comic hero's features were originally based on Sting, but Keanu Reeves was cast in the part. From then on they were already fighting a losing battle with the fans. So how does it compare otherwise?
The film's story is based around a conspiracy to invoke an ancient prophecy and release the Anti-Christ and the end of days. There are many key players in the conspiracy and not all are who they seem, subverting our ideals on Good vs Evil.
Rachel Weisz plays detective Angela Dodson, who after having a premonition of her sisters death, sets about trying to prove it wasn't suicide. Through her investigation she meets Constantine, who unveils the real world behind what we see. It soon becomes apparent that Angela has a far greater part to play in the prophecy.
Constantine and Angela must travel to the very depths of hell to stop the prophecy and fight demons of many forms and the occasional angel too.
Keanu Reeves does well to fill the Constantine character with the same level of sarcasm and wit of the comics. The film portrays him as someone who on the outside doesn't care about anyone but himself. He's killing demons to buy his way into heaven. But he is also fiercely loyal to his friends who have a nasty habit of dying. Also lifted straight from the comics.
The supporting cast are excellent too: Shia Lebouef in an early role as John's trusted yet unused sidekick. Max Baker as the Q type character who provides John with his arsenal of weapons including the Holy Knuckle Duster. Tilda Swinton impresses with her turn as the ambiguous Angel Gabriel, who may be playing both sides. But, even although he's only in it for fifteen minutes, It's Peter Stormare as Lucifer that blows the audience away. He really encapsulates the embodiment of evil perfectly, slithering and sliding around every shot hissing in Constantines ear. Dressed immaculately in white with black tattoos up and down his arms and neck. They couldn't have done it better.
The special effects in this film aren't widely remembered, but watching it again this morning I noticed that they have a lot in common with Nightwatch and Daywatch with exploding glass hanging in the air and people being pulled through walls backwards. It's well worth watching again.
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