"The Constant Gardener" with Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz is a political drama and a love story. The plot is based on a novel by John Le Carre, a story that expertly interweaves the conspiracy and the intimate relationship between a quiet diplomat and a vivacious activist.
The film excels at all levels, combining talents in direction (the director of "City of God"), cinematography, editing, and not the least, acting. The story is involving, and it has the feel of an epic, but without the banality of a typical Hollywood epic production. I rank it as the best movie I have seen this year.
Now, before you dismiss me as being a hyperbole, I can say the movie is in par with past greats, such as "Black Hawk Down" and "The English Patient". Its portrayal of the gritty and corrupt world of Africa juxtapose with the refined but equally evil hypocrisy of the developed countries.
One thing the film could have been better is in regards to innovation. It's a traditional film produced with no ground-breaking features, but it's a masterpiece nevertheless.
Three thumbs up.