memory-of-heroines

[memory-of-heroines]

Angela Dodson

PROFILE

Name: Angela Dodson

Film: Constantine (2005)

Portrayed by: Rachel Weisz

Occupation: LAPD detective.

Plot: Angela Dodson has to investigate the death of her twin sister, Isabel, who remained in a psychiatric hospital because she claimed to have visions of mystical creatures such as angels and demons. Angela herself is a strong believer, although she does not accept that her sister’s visions can be real.

Main traits:

Obstinate and strong-willed; she decides to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of her sister, even though the people around her try to dissuade her. 

She has an unusually sharp instinct, very useful in her field of work.

She is a very sensitive person. She laments every situation in which she is forced to shoot a criminal, consistently with her religious beliefs. She has a deep love for her sister.

She expresses a desire to fit into society from her childhood. She finds Constantine’s cynical and misanthropic behaviour annoying and unwarranted.

She usually leads herself with kindness although she does not hesitate to use her authority when needed. She can be sweet and funny, which gives her character some depth.

Character analysis

GOOD POINTS:

Angela performs a traditionally masculine and high-position job. She is not only part of the security forces and therefore knows how to handle weapons and how to face complex situations, she is a detective, which means that she has resources and people under her responsibility.

She's not portrayed as manly (masculinized*). Her clothing is normally sober, informal outside of work, and ungendered. She has long hair, usually pulled up in a pony tail or similar, and wears tight yet comfortable clothes.

There is no explicit or implicit mention of her sex or appearance throughout the film: no observations on her female nature nor compliments. That said, Rachel Weisz is incredibly beautiful in this film, but that’s partly a subjective observation* of each viewer.

BAD POINTS:

Angela and her sister are a central part of the plot, as is Longinus’s spear, and at the end of the film she is confirmed as the protagonist’s romantic interest, with some soft flirting through the whole feature. Her character is therefore another tool in Constantine's story.

The coincidences with Constantine before the plot links them are somewhat forced, although the scenes themselves are very interesting and well constructed, and draw the dynamics of the two characters. 

Throughout the movie, Angela and her sister Isabel are the only two women who have a relevant role in the film, which begins with the death of the second, so Angela has no dialogue with any other woman (no Bechdel test pass).

Sometimes her makeup is too noticeable wich doesn’t fit with the character’s entire appeareance.

*About the film: Director Francis Lawrence is creative and in many of his films everything works fine: rythm, cinematography, actors, desing... In my opinion is a good film.