Constantine Movie Review

Constantine (2005)

Rent Constantine on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the comic (paid link)
Written by: Jamie Delano & Garth Ennis (comic book "Hellblazer"), Kevin Brodbin (story), Kevin Brodbin and
Frank A. Cappello (screenplay)
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf, Gavin Rossdale, Tilda Swinton, Peter Stormare
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Supernatural exorcist and demonologist John Constantine helps a policewoman prove her sister's death was not a suicide, but the harbinger of an otherworldly event.

Verdict
This creates an interesting world that feels like it extends past what we see on the screen. The multi- faceted characters play into the plot which helps transform this from a typical action movie into something more clever. It's a fun movie that plays with religion and myths. The writing helps elevate this past cliches. I really enjoy how all the story points come together at the end.
Watch it.

Review
I've never read the comics, so I can't comment on how faithful this adaptation is.

Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine.

This starts with the supernatural just so you know what you're in for. I scavenger finds a spear head that seems to give him powers. The next scene shows us Constantine (Keanu Reeves) who knows what he's doing and performs exorcisms often. We don't need a character telling us this, the movie communicates it with the key chain of crosses and how Constantine conducts himself. 

I really like the plot and how all the pieces come together in the end. Each scene develops characters and pushes the plot forward. While I won't reveal how everything comes together, I wondered if the movie could continue the pace of the beginning until the end and it does.

The direction and cinematography look great, though it can be indulgent at times. In the first fifteen minutes there are a number of Dutch angles and camera movements. Part of what makes this look good is the production design. There's a lot of detail from the etchings in Constantine's door frame to Beeman's bowling alley lair.

Constantine lives in a world where angels and demons walk the Earth, but have an agreement not to interfere with humans. Constantine is one of the few people that has the ability to see them. He keeps the peace and sends demons back to hell when they step out of line. Constantine isn't the demon police due to benevolence, he's trying to make up for a past wrong and avoid hell.

The movie gives us enough information to make the world interesting, but not so much that it backs itself into a corner trying to explain the logic.

I love the plotting. Everything the movie has introduced comes together in the end from Constantine's reasons for demon hunting, to his health, and the deal he has with the devil. All the pieces matter once we get to the end, setting up a conclusion that's really smart.

Peter Stormare plays Lucifer.

Peter Stormare is great as Lucifer, and he recently stated a sequel is in the works.

This reminds me a lot of John Wick. Other than Keanu, you've got very good world building that strikes a line between information, action, and plot.

This is a movie I haven't heard much about, but it's really enjoyable.