Over the Counter Conspiracy
Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) of the British High Commission in Nairobi was always a bit by the book which made his marriage to Tessa a bit strained as she was an activist, always stirring things up where they needed to be even if it left him feeling uncomfortable. So when whilst away of a trip with Dr. Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundé) Tessa and Arnold are both killed Justin knows what he is being told about them being lovers to not be all they seemed. Whilst others expected Justin to accept what happened and what he is told he takes it upon himself to uncover the truth which not only lead to Tessa's murder to shut her up but involving those close to him who he once felt were his friends.
I'm a Type 1 diabetic, not something I like but something I have to live with. But as a diabetic I know two things; one there will not be a week which goes past when there will be something in the press about a possible cure for Type 1 Diabetes but nothing comes to fruition. And two, diabetes is big business for the pharmaceutical companies with a tub of 50 test strips costing £30.00 which for some with diabetes would not last them a week. Now I am not claiming that they don't find a cure for diabetes because it is a money maker for companies but I mention it as "The Constant Gardener" touches on a similar topic as corruption within the drug industries leads to murder.
But I am sort of getting ahead of myself so what we get in "The Constant Gardener" is actually quite straight forwards as after his wife's death Justin Quayle turns detective to uncover the truth behind all the lies he is being fed about her death and her relationships. So yes we have cover ups which on one hand are to do with drug companies using experimental drugs on the African population forcing them to take them or else they lose their other medicine. And on the other hand involves relationships with Justin learning stuff about those closest to him.
The thing about all this is that whilst it is both interesting and entertaining I would never say that it is enthralling as this is very much a wordy thriller rather than an action packed one although it has some surprising nudity in there which in truth doesn't add much to the movie beyond titillation. It is also a movie which has the curse of the floaty camera which can be up close and then far away and all done intentionally to create an air of confusion but only achieving for me a state of annoyance.
What this all boils down to is that whilst "The Constant Gardner" is entertaining it had a style which didn't truly work for me and a wordy nature which whilst works for some didn't work so well for me.
