Constantine

3/4 stars

Keanu Reeves is at the same calibre of acting here as he was in The Matrix films. I mean that as a compliment, I don't have much patience for the unfair singling out of Keanu as a bad actor that's so popular. He has his troublesome moments (and with bad editing, that can happen to anyone) but he's still a head and shoulders above plenty of vacant, good-looking people in Hollywood. The action is also on the same level as the aforementioned trilogy, with some stylistic differences. I found the world of the movie, its use of Catholicism as a mythological backdrop both startling and engrossing. On the negative side though, the supporting cast could use a bit more depth and development, and the story seems more complicated than it really is at times due to muddled delivery. This movie encourages the audience to think, but the sheer spectacle at times seems to act as a reward for not doing so. Still, a gripping and inventive film.

Written March 26, 2008.