I did not know this, before looking it up, but it turns out, I’m in a Matthew Vaughn situation with Constantine‘s director – well almost. Similar to Vaughn, there are a lot of Francis Lawrence‘s works that I’m familiar with. From the movies (I Am Legend, Catching Fire, Water for Elephants, Mockingjay), to music videos, or TV Pilots; I’ve watched and appreciated a lot of things he directed. Here, Keanu Reeves & Rachel Weisz (Disobedience) star alongside Shia Labeouf (Lawless), Djimon Hounsou (Shazam!), and Tilda Swinton (Strange) in an adaptation of the “Hellblazer” comic book; pulling storylines from “Original Sin” and “Dangerous Habit.”

Premise: John Constantine, supernatural exorcist and demonologist, seeks salvation from eternal damnation in hell for a suicide in his youth by exorcising demons. He’s asked to help a policewoman prove her sister’s death was not a suicide.

Review: This movie works on multiple levels, it is entertaining and thought-provoking. You can sit and watch this film on a weeknight or week-end, turning your brain off, seeking a distraction and you’ll have it. If you want to analyze in depth the deeper meaning behind the subjects touched upon in the movie you can do that too. Or you’d like to study directing, or acting in it? Still works.

If you think about it, Constantine is reminiscent of many animated movies for kids that are also aimed at entertaining adults. Here, it’s the other way around. Depending on where you live, this movie might have an age restriction but you can watch it at different stages of your life and still find something in it for you.

I am not saying it is the greatest piece of entertainment but you can approach it in the dumbest, smartest, or most scholarly way you want and you won’t be grasping at straws to find something to analyze, discuss, and criticize.

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