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The Constant Gardener [DVD]
 
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The Constant Gardener [DVD]

 Suitable for 15 years and over   DVD
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (122 customer reviews)
Price: £4.49 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this item with The English Patient [DVD] £5.87

The Constant Gardener [DVD] + The English Patient [DVD]
Price For Both: £10.36

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Product details

  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 13 Mar 2006
  • Run Time: 123 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (122 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000B7QLLO
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 6,630 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Constant Gardener is the kind of thriller that hasn't been seen since the 1970s: Smart, politically complex, cinematically adventurous, genuinely thrilling and even heartbreaking. Mild diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient, Schindler's List) has a loose cannon of a wife named Tessa (Rachel Weisz, The Shape of Things, The Mummy), who's digging into the dirty doings of a major pharmaceutical company in Kenya. Her brutal murder forces Justin to continue her investigation down some deadly avenues.

This simple plot description doesn't capture the rich texture and slippery, sinuous movement of The Constant Gardener, superbly directed by Fernando Meirelles (Oscar-nominated for his first film, City of God). Shifting back and forth in time, the movie skillfully captures the engaging romance between Justin and Tessa (Fiennes shows considerably more chemistry with Weisz than he had with Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan) and builds a vivid, gripping, and all-too-justified paranoia. And on top of it all, the movie is beautiful, due to both its incredible shots of the African landscape (which at times is haunting and unearthly) and the gorgeous cinematography. Featuring an all-around excellent cast, including Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father), and Danny Huston (Silver City).--Bret Fetzer

Synopsis

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, whose previous film, City of God, won awards all over the world and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2004 Oscars has crafted another highly entertaining yet important film. Beautifully shot in Kenya, Germany, Sudan, Manitoba, and London, The Constant Gardener, based on a bestselling novel by John Le Carre, is an exciting mix of romance and spy thriller. Ralph Fiennes stars as Justin Quayle, a low-level British diplomat who has always gone about his work very quietly, not causing any problems. But after his radical wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), is killed, he becomes determined to find out why, thrusting himself into the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy. Jeffrey Caine's powerful screenplay alternates between flashbacks of Justin and Tessa's relationship and Justin's hunt for the truth, which makes him a target although he doesn't know who is after him. Fine support is offered by Danny Huston as his close friend and confidant, Sandy; Bill Nighy as shady British official Sir Bernard Pellegrin; and Hubert Kounde as Arnold Bluhm, an African doctor who might have been a little too friendly with Tessa. Meirelles's pacing is outstanding, switching effortlessly between political intrigue, action adventure, and love story. And Fiennes and Weisz give strong performances playing complex characters that will continually surprise the audience. The Constant Gardener is a thrilling tale from start to finish.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
A green thumb 5 Jan 2006
By Kurt Messick HALL OF FAME TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
The title 'The Constant Gardener' has multiple meanings for this film, but first it refers to the obvious, the character of Justin Quayle, a middle-tier member of the British diplomatic corps in Africa, who is constantly trying to cultivate a proper garden, be it in London or in Africa. Into his routine civil service existence, Tessa arrives, full of ideas, passion for justice, and more than a few secrets. Of course, the diplomatic corps powers also have their secrets, and it is in the clash of secrets that Tessa ends up being murdered, and Justin's life turns from one of routine if not wholehearted loyalty to the service into an extraordinary, passionate and heart-felt loyalty to the memory of his wife.

This film is remarkable in several ways, not the least because of the cinematography. More than half the film is set in Africa, both Kenya and the Sudan. Here is life in all its contradictions - abject poverty and stunning beauty, illness and disease amidst the overpopulation; life among the dying, and death among the living. One thing the viewer will notice is that all of the scenes in Africa are shown in vivid, powerful colours. The scenes in London and on the European continent are faded and gray; despite the fact that the European scenes are invariably set in wealthy settings (private clubs, opulent halls, expensive buildings, etc.), they lack the colour and life of the African scenes - even the Kenyan shanty town and the Sudanese refugee camp seem to contain more life than the major cities of the Western world. This is surely no accident, but rather a device the director used to intensify the contradictions.

There are several plots that lead into one another - what was Tessa really up to? Who was involved, and to what degree? There are a few subplots that fall short, but on the whole, the film hangs together well in a narrative sense. Tessa's murder is an early event, and much of the film is done in flash-back or memory sequences, until the two come together in time frame and the mystery begins to reach some clarity.

This film is directed by Fernando Meirelles, who was nominated for an Oscar for his first film, the Brazilian 'City of God'. His is certainly a name to watch. In this film he directs
Ralph Fiennes ('The English Patient', a film that bears many similarities here) and Rachel Weisz ('The Mummy'), together with a good collection of British and African actors. The extras casting for Africa was extremely well done, and the nice touches such as the AIDS street-theatre performance in the Kenyan slum were inspired.

The film has a majestic, broad and sweeping feel to it. One is treated to a visual banquet of images, colourful deserts and lakes, wildlife and plant life, and the people of the lands of Africa, all truly remarkable. The music is sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic - much is inspired by native sounds of Africa.

The film is engrossing and interesting, causing many feelings to grow in the garden of viewing.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Thought provoking 29 Sep 2007
By Dodster TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
If you're into fast action, fast paced, explosive movies, then this is not one for you.
It is a slow paced, thoughtful movie. Set in Africa, amid a storyline of big businees and corruption it has some uncomfortable moments - particularly when mounted bandits sweep down on an unprotected village - strains of Darfur and the genocide occuring there.
Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz are excellent in the lead roles. Particulary Ms. Weisz, having only seen her in the Mummy movies, her acting skills are a revelation.
The film is based on a novel by John Le Carre. Could it happen?
Watch the extra features and make up your mind.
Highly recommended.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
I'm your down to earth type of guy that cant wait for die hard 15 to be released, i like explosive action films and was dragged to watch this by my girl friend. However, i was suprised by the superb rachle weisz and ralph fienes and found it to be a gripping film.
Its the type of film which is fiction based on truths around a certain type of industry

Lads, be warned you may need a box of kleenex!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wrong Region
This item is listed as being a region 2 DVD. The box says it is Regions 2, 4 & 5 however when I tried to play it in a Xbox it told me it was the wrong region and could not play. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Toby Nutter
Excellent film, Inconsistent Quality
I wanted to own this fabulous movie in HD Video, expecting the wonderful scenes in pristine quality.
That's not menat to be. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ARNAB SENGUPTA
Better read the book
Boring film. Tedious focus on the romantic scenes at the expense of story-line development. Better by far to read the book.
Published 4 months ago by Laura Robertson
bought it to see the end
i watched this on tv a few months ago, and fell asleep before the end.... can wait to watch it again....
Published 9 months ago by Ms. M. Gray
constant gardner
Really excellent movie. Puts the hacking scandal in perspective.
Whatever is good for the 'powers that be' is what will happen. Read more
Published 10 months ago by vidura
RALPH FIENNES SHINES
This is a truly thought provoking, wonderfully acted masterpiece of a movie. All the actors are good, but for me there is only one standout performance, that is Ralph Fiennes. Read more
Published 13 months ago by H. Evans
Stating the obvious
I had high hopes for this film - good cast, interesting premise, promising director. However...
The main problems with this film were based around the plot and the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. Rottweiller Swinburne
Spellbounding
The Constant Gardener is an amazing film really well crafted with the story told in flashbacks through the mind/eyes of Justin Quayle, the main character, a British diplomat posted... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ms. Therese Leignel
Excellent love movie
Excellent love movie developed in Africa, very critical on the pharmeceutical industry and how they are testing their new developments.
Published 17 months ago by alpespes
Not quite the same
The Constant Gardiner book was - to me - much more alive. The film took bits and threw them together, and only made real sense when I remembered what happened in the book. Read more
Published 19 months ago by TonyB
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