Brown's Best-Seller On The Big Screen: A Sensationalist Work Of Speculative Fiction

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2006)

The Da Vinci Code (2006): Starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Pierre Marielle, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Jurgen Prochnow, Jean-Yves Bertelot, Etienne Chicot, Marie Francoise Audolet....Director Ron Howard, Based On The Best Selling Novel By Dan Brown.
"Too many deaths and wars have been caused in the name of the One True God" - Sir Leigh Teibing (Ian Mckellen)
"I believe in people, and that sometimes they can be good" - Sophie (Audrey Tatou).......
The premiere weekend is over and dozens of Americans have seen the controversial film, based on the Dan Brown best-seller. With all the hype surrounding it, and the recent protests, book-burning and angry Opus Dei members, Christians and Catholics, this film will enjoy a great summer at the box office. Bottom line: this is a sensational work of speculative fiction, offers a theory, and doesn't take itself seriously. Neither should you. Keep an open mind but if you're a person of faith, don't let a simple little adventure story rock the foundations of what you believe. The film is an odd choice for director Ron Howard and for actor Tom Hanks, but the end result is it is a satisfying adaptation with lots of suspense, mystery and adventure. Shot on location at the Louvre and other sites of Paris, as well as Temple Church and Rosslyn chapel in England, the movie follows the perilous journey of Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and the daughter of the murdered Frenchman, Jacques Sauniere (Jean Pierre Marielle) Sophie Nouveau (Audrey Tatou). Sauniere groomed the orphaned Sophie to unravel codes and puzzles she didn't quite understand as a child. Now as an adult woman, she embarks on a quest to decipher clues in Leonardo Da Vinci paintings and architectural landmarks to get to the bottom of an age-old secret that some are willing to kill for. A small group from within Opus Dei (wrongfully portrayed) that includes Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina) and the young monk he has taken under his wing, an Albino named Silas (Paul Bettany). Silas was disowned by his family who thought him to be repulsive and was taken from a life of crime in the street by the Bishop who recruits him to do his dirty work, namely kill any member of the secret Priory of Sion whose mission is to protect what they believe are the descendants of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, who contrary to the Church-imposed image of her as a whore, was in fact, the "Holy Bride". Paul Bettany steals the show as a brutal agent for this Catholic sect and gets into the character's damaged psyche quite well. Tom Hanks is doing a good performance but not his best work and doubtless he could have done better and is in the end, miscast. Audrey Tatou is terrific as a girl caught up in a larger-than-life mission and who steps up to the challenge, ultimately discovering her own hidden identity in the process. She plays the part as a strong female, even stronger than Tom Hanks' Langdon, but if she disappoints in something, it's in the absence of emotion and transformation. She is the last descendant of Jesus and she doesn't believe it nor take it too seriously nor react with any depth of emotion. Her acting is slightly on the bland side, but so is Hanks'. Veteran British actor Ian McKellen (who also worked on X-Men Last Stand at the same time) as the knowledgeable Sir Leigh Teibing does better. He's very humorous, intelligent and nuanced. He has the single greatest line in the whole movie, "So many deaths have been caused in the name of the One True God". And isn't that the truth! Religion and war, Bible and weapons, when will it end ? There are some plot holes here and there due to the fact the film doesn't convey every aspect of the novel and does feel rushed when parts of it could have been slower, especially such pivotal moments as when Langdon and Sophie first learn about the Jesus/Mary theory from Tiebing in his estate. The paintings could have also featured more prominently in the film as the Louvre scene in the beginning is too brief. In the end, this is just a Gnostic fantasy thriller and you can choose to believe in it or not as it is all conjecture. True for most part to the novel, it is an exciting, edge-of-your-seat ride through Europe, past and present, and makes one want to learn about such mysteries as the Templar Knights, the Priory of Sion and visit the exotic locations. The music by Hans Zimmer is dramatic and oddly beautiful. This is a well-made movie and I highly recommend everyone, irregardless of their beliefs, to treat yourself to an adventure such as this one. Dan Brown's book has achieved a level of immortality now that it has been made into a stunning Hollywood film. It is the number one film in America right now. DVD's will sell like crazy in a few months and is sure to be recognized for at least one or two Oscars come next February or March. There is a lot to admire in the direction, art direction, cinematography, music, screenplay and other aspects, even if the acting is not Oscar worthy. The film has struck chords and nerves with Americans and will not soon be forgotten. It takes its place with other religious controversial films like "Ken Russel's The Devils " "Jesus Christ Superstar" Last Temptation of Christ" and the recent Mel Gibson film The Passion Of The Christ.