Review: Constantine

Looks like DC Comics' blue period is over. Based on the enigmatic comic Hellblazer from DC's Vertigo imprint, Constantine is a kinky, funny and fresh take on matters of theological irritations. Keanu Reeves is John Constantine, a suicide victime stuck in a kind of purgatory, cursed with lung cancer (in a funny gag, Constantine is always smoking in inappropriate places), and functioning under a self-imposed mission to cast half-breeds back to where they came from. In doing so he hopes to gain God's favor and entrance to Heaven. The supposed suicide of a mental patient (Rachel Weisz) attracts the attention of Constantine, and his path collides with her twin sister (also Weisz, natch). They join forces to combat the rogue angel, Gabriel, who seeks to allow Lucifer's son to enter the world of mortals. It seems Gabriel (the wonderfully cheeky Tilda Swinton) has a little free-will envy and the "suicide" was a way of bringing Devil 2.0 a medium for exiting Hell. Considering the puritanical sociological environment we find ourselves in currently, it's quite amazing that a major Hollywood studio greenlit a film with so much "heretical" subtext. First-time feature filmmaker Francis Lawrence (like most newbie genre directors, a veteran of music videos) dispenses with the typical po-mo trappings of many contemporary comic book translations and delivers a true Gothic action spectacular, complete with stunning visions of Hell (essentially Earth on fire) and brief glimpses of Heaven (shimmering, soft-focus towers). Reeves has really never been better in this kind of role. His cool demeanor far surpasses anything in the Matrix films (which are far less affecting than Constantine). Weisz and Swinton are only two of a terrific supporting cast, including Djimon Hounsou, Peter Stormare (a deliciously deranged Lucifer), Shia LaBeouf, Pruitt Tayor Vince and Bush's Gavin Rossdale. Lawrence shows great promise as a penetrating action filmmaker and a creator of singular genre visions. (Warner Bros.; 121 minutes; Rated R)

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