Constantine (2005)

Director:

Francis Lawrence

Writers (WGA):

Jamie Delano (comic book "Hellblazer") &
Garth Ennis (comic book "Hellblazer") ...

Release Date:

18 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Hell wants him. Heaven won't take him. Earth needs him.

Plot:

Based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hellblazer and written by Kevin Brodbin, Mark Bomback and Frank Capello, Constantine tells the story of irreverent supernatural detective John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), who has literally been to hell and back.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Demon | Twin Sister | Suicide | Twin

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Keanu Reeves	...	John Constantine
Rachel Weisz	...	Angela Dodson / Isabel Dodson
Shia LaBeouf	...	Chas Kramer
Djimon Hounsou	...	Midnite
Max Baker	...	Beeman
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Father Hennessy
Gavin Rossdale	...	Balthazar
Tilda Swinton	...	Gabriel
Peter Stormare	...	Satan
Jesse Ramirez	...	Scavenger
José Zúñiga	...	Detective Weiss (as Jose Zuniga)
Francis Guinan	...	Father Garret
Larry Cedar	...	Vermin Man
April Grace	...	Dr. Leslie Archer
Suzanne Whang	...	Mother

Also Known As:

Constantine (Germany)
Hellblazer (USA) (working title)
John Constantine: Hellblazer (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and demonic images.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Filipino | Tagalog

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #41423) | Taiwan:R-12 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Italy:T | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | New Zealand:M | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | India:A | Ireland:18 (video rating) | Ireland:16 (original rating) | France:-12

Filming Locations:

Angeles Abbey Memorial Park - 1515 E. Compton Blvd., Compton, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The original script had the opening in Istanbul, Turkey but had to be changed to the present location because of budget restraints.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The priest tells Angela that suicide is a mortal sin and therefore she cannot have a Catholic funeral. While the church does still consider it a sin, it is not done so in case of mental illness, which in modern times is every time, and in that case since she was in a mental institution is a moot point. People who commit suicide are no longer refused a Catholic funeral.

Quotes:

John Constantine: So, what's new?
Beeman: Bullet shavings from the assassination attempt on the Pope... Holy-water ampoules from the River Jordan... and - oh, you'll love this... Screech beetle from Amityville.
[He hands John a matchbox. John shakes it, and a tiny squeak comes out. He gives Beeman a look]
Beeman: Yeah, it's funny to you, but to the fallen, that's like nails on a chalkboard.
John Constantine: What is it, exactly, with you and bugs?
Beeman: I just like them.
John Constantine: Yeah. Who doesn't?
[He picks up a tube]
Beeman: Yeah, easy there, hero. That's dragon's breath.
John Constantine: I thought you couldn't get it anymore.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Dogma (1999)

Soundtrack:

Passive

See it! You won't be sorry!

"Constantine" is a dark, yet dazzling film. A terrific story backed up by spectacular special effects and great cinematography pull us into a dark and dangerous world - a world where half-angels and half-demons whisper to us mortals as God and Satan use us as pawns in an apocalyptic game of chess. Cursed with ability too see these spirits, John Constantine finds himself right in the middle of this showdown.

Keanu Reeves gives a fantastic turn as John Constantine. He infuses Constantine with a grim sense of purpose and dark humor. He is the ultimate anti-hero, and Reeves deftly takes Constantine from being someone we simply root for to someone we actually like and respect.

Rachel Weisz is terrific as well. Her tortured and soulful performance is the best of the film. Shia LaBeouf also blew me away.

I have not read the Hellblazer comics, but standing alone "Constantine" is a great film. This one is a must see!