Susan Granger’s review of “Constantine” (Warner Bros.)
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) has been to hell and back, literally. Tormented by an innate ability to see the “half-breed” angels and demons who pass as humans, he committed suicide as a teenager. But after spending two minutes in hell, he was resuscitated. Bitter, jaded and cynical, he now works as a paranormal detective/exorcist, hoping, somehow, to make it into heaven. That’s just not going to happen, according to Gabriel (Tilda Swinton), an androgynous angel who serves as God’s gatekeeper. Chain-smoking and facing terminal lung cancer, he nevertheless helps a skeptical detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) solve the mysterious death of her twin sister Isabel. This quest calls on Constantine’s knowledge of demonology and black magic, in addition to his courage and fortitude in undertaking a treacherous journey and facing Balthazar (guitarist Gavin Rossdale), the malevolent emissary of Satan (Peter Stormare). On the murky fringes of the occult are Constantine’s wannabe protŽgŽ Chaz (Shia LaBeouf), a flashy faith healer/witch doctor named Midnite (Djimon Hounsou) and an aging priest (Pruitt Taylor Vince). Inspired by the DC Comics/Vertigo “Hellblazer” series of graphic novels, screenwriters Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello seem to have successfully captured the dour Constantine character. Music video director Francis Lawrence brings a tortured film noir visuality to the reluctant anti-hero concept, exploring the underworld via the underbelly of Los Angeles. Like “The Matrix,” everything is neither rational nor explained, which makes even the special effects confusing. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Constantine” is a sinister, supernatural 6, giving a gothic, grotesque twist to the old adage: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
