Constantine

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I often find it fun to watch a movie (not a particularly good one) and remember that cinema goes through various stages of subgenres. For example, who can forget the influx of religious-themed action movies and thrillers that were dominating screens for a brief stint in the naughties? I was reminded of this particular phase the other night when my partner and I sat down and watched Constantine.

A classic antihero story, the film chronicles the adventures of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), a cynical, chain-smoking supernatural detective who spends his time performing exorcisms. A dying man marked for Hell, he joins forces with a policewoman (Rachel Weisz) who is out to prove her sister’s death was not suicide, but murder. The two quickly discover that there is more to the case than they bargained for and soon they are up against the literal forces of Hell, trying to find the truth and save the world.

The Naughties were a particularly interesting time for cinema I think. There was a lot of experimentation with different subgenres of action and monster movies. While a lot of these films were still pretty bad in the same way that a lot of ‘90s action flicks were bad, there was this bourgeoning understanding of style that could be achieved through special effects and a lot of films were exploring that. Constantine was one of those films.

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A simple story, made slightly different because it’s dealing with Christian mythology, as well as putting it against a dark (atheist) modern city backdrop, the film is surprising stylish. Its interpretations of supernatural/religious experiences (possessions as well as showdowns against demons, angels, and such) are actually quite exquisite and gives the film a fresh, gothic vibe that mingles quite interestingly with its primarily hard-hitting action movie tone.

Solid performances, interesting fight sequences, and a plot that is easy enough to follow and complex enough to remain engaging, Constantine is a pretty interesting movie.

Director: Francis Lawrence, 2005

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Djimon Hounsou, Max Baker, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Gavin Rossdale, Peter Stormare, and Tilda Swinton