Last night I was in the mood for a movie, but found the offerings in my un-hip neighborhood less than tepid. I decided to go see Constantine because, ceteris paribus, films adapted from comic books are usually at least visually arresting and offer promisingly complex characters, if true to form (e.g. Hellboy, while not a memorable film, did feature the stylish Selma Blair as a young woman given to bursting into flames; an anti-Joan of Arc for the 21st Century?). While I wouldn't exactly recommend Constantine (too many loose threads in the narrative subtext caused the plot to unfray towards the end), it does feature the extraordinary Tilda Swinton as a gorgeous, unsympathetic version of the angel Gabriel. Her costuming and pre-Raphaelite curls were stunning, topped off nicely with enormous wings covered in black feathers. Sadly, I couldn't find any photos online but it was a good look. I also liked the use of religious iconography in the film, and Keanu Reeves' black & white wardrobe, which looked like Costume National, was also very well done and pitch perfect.
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