In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle, played by Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) is found brutally murdered, and her missing colleague is a suspect. Tessa's widower, a mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle, played by Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient), soon learns the British High Commission, which he works for, may know the reasons why she was killed, but they aren't talking.

WARNING: THE HOOK OF THE MOVIE IS GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH!

Justin begins to uncover the same dirt his wife was digging in and discovers the poverty stricken people of Kenya are being forced to take medication to prevent a new disease epidemic, which has been proven to kill certain subjects. However, since money and marketing is involved, including the British government, Tessa's reports were answered in murder.

The movie's story was its greatest strength. I really enjoyed the cloak and dagger nature of the material, especially when Justin continued Tessa's investigation. It was the mystery of the movie that kept me interested in the next scene to come; however, it kept taking each damn scene TO ARRIVE!!!

Fiennes was awesome. His unspoken work is uncomparable, and Weisz was very good as well. The supporting cast was also top notch.

The worst part of this movie was its length. There were so many shots given for purposes of "art" that it slowed down the movie in general, way down. I also hated the over-color-saturated film grain look of nearly the entire picture. I don't think that style has many uses in cinema, and it didn't work for this film. It rarely does. "Man on Fire" is one of the only exceptions I can think of.

Director Fernando Meirelles (City of God) decided to shoot nearly the entire movie with camera in hand, using a cinema verite style, which translates in French to shaky screen that'll make you sick.

I don't mind hand held camera shooting. I like the look for the right use, but it doesn't have a place when two people are sitting at a table having a meal or laying in bed talking. Meirelles choices generally gave me a headache. I don't see how people can call him a genius. I don't get it.

Overall, I thought "The Constant Gardener" was pretty exciting, but tough to sit through. I think this movie would be much more enjoyed at home, on DVD, in the comfort of your favorite recliner. Make sure you take a couple No Doze and a couple Excedrin to keep the director's antics from giving you a migraine.