As Justin begins to dig deeper into Tessa's death, he realizes she had uncovered a pharmaceutical company involved in testing products on African residents. She had chosen to keep her findings secret from him, a fact he struggles to understand. Still, he feels compelled to finish the investigation she started, even though he is well aware of the risks involved.
Fiennes is a dependably good actor, and gives his best performance since Schindler's List. He has to play two diverse sides to his character and serve as the film's centerpiece. Though she has much less screen time, Weisz also does great work here, crafting a lively performance that resonates through the entire movie.
Some of the supporting parts, while probably more fleshed out in le Carré's book, are rather undercooked here, but still mostly serve their purpose.
With its topical storyline portraying influence and possible corruption in the world of pharmaceuticals, The Constant Gardener shows the power such an industry can have. But it also demonstrates that the power of love can be even stronger.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity.)
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