CONSTANTINE
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Certificate 15

KEANU Reeves is a reluctant hero trying to save the world. Sound familiar? Well, while this isn’t The Matrix Part Four, there are some similarities between this gothic horror, based on the DC comic Hellblazer, and the science fiction trilogy that turned Reeves from cute-but-dim movie hunk to one of Hollywood’s most successful, coolest and wealthiest stars.
He plays John Constantine, a chain-smoking, cancer-riddled and understandably grumpy dude who has the ability to see the half-breed demons who live among us on earth.
Constantine spends his time ridding the earth of such creatures, mainly because – thanks to a teenage suicide attempt regarded as a mortal sin – he is destined for hell himself, and wants to impress the big man upstairs into changing his ultimate destination from the hot place to somewhere far more appealing.
Unfortunately, his attempts at redemption haven’t so far impressed, but when cop Angela (Rachel Weisz) asks him to investigate the death of her sister, Constantine sees a possible chance to finally get a ticket to heaven before his blackened lungs do him in once and for all.
Slickly directed by former music video director Francis Lawrence (who made Britney Spears’ sweaty I’m A Slave 4 U), this is darkly entertaining comic book fare with Keanu Reeves perfectly cast as the cynical, tired, anti-hero who really doesn’t care about much of anything. Fans of the graphic novel may disagree, since the original Constantine was a blond Liverpudlian, but never mind. He’s a moody and yet somehow stylish loner, and it’s in his brooding scenes between the impressive yet subtle effects that the movie is at its best.
Rachel Weisz has less to do as the girlie and rocker Gavin Rossdale may provide more sniggers than chills as one of the bad guys, but all in all this is a better than average walk on the dark side and a must see for Keanu Reeves fans.