Constantine (2005)

Somewhere in Mexico, a scavenger discovers the Spear of Destiny.  Immediately, he sets out north for Los Angeles.  He is unkillable, emerging unscathed when a car crashes into him.  Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) arrives as a low-rent apartment building to perform an excorcism.  To his surprise, the demon was attempting to crossover; that should not happen.  Though happenstance, he encounters police detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz).  Her twin sister, Isabel, recently committed suicide by jumping from a building.  Reviewing the footage, Angela hears her sister say, "Constantine." Together, Constantine and Angela use magic and rituals to discover why Isabel committed suicide and why demons appear on the brink of invading the Earth from Hell.

Constantine has a variety of sources and contacts: his driver/apprentice, Chas Kramer (Shia LeBouf), the witch doctor Papa Midnite (Djimon Hounsou), occult expert Beeman, and recovering alcoholic Father Hennessy (Pruitt Taylor Vince).  He also has a variety of weapons that are best suited to fighting demons and devils: dragon's breath, light incantations, flammable shroud, and the crucifix gun.  Despite the plentiful characters, the story managed to stay focused.  Constantine is a man destined to go to hell but lives his life by making enemies of its denizens.  Word is that Satan himself (Peter Stormare) will collect Constantine's soul.

Here is a post-Neo, pre-John Wick role for Keanu Reeves and it proves to be a perfect transition.  He still has knowledge and abilities beyond all others but is no longer a nigh invulnerable superhero in the Matrix.  Here he is world-weary, but still full of fight.  By the time we get to John Wick, he has tried to retire.

Reeves and Weisz have great chemistry but never get romantically involved.  Weisz didn't quite fit as an LA detective, but being more of a sidekick to Constantine, that didn't matter much.  LeBouf was better than expected.  His anxious manner and constant banter fit his character perfectly, for a change.  Tilda Swinton had another go at playing a male character, this time Gabriel.  Well, Gabriel is an angel.  In any case, she plays up the androgyny angle, reminding me of Orlando (1992).  Though her role is fairly small, she makes the most of it.  Peter Stormare would not have been my first choice for Satan, but proves to be ideal.  There is something off about him, his accent and manner, that gives him a creepy vibe.

Generally, lots of fun.  Too bad there wasn't a sequel.  Recommended.