Release Date: May 19, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno
Plot:
Famed symbologist Professor Robert Langdon is called to the Louvre museum one night where a curator has been murdered, leaving behind a mysterious trail of symbols and clues. With his own survival at stake, Langdon, aided by the police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, unveils a series of stunning secrets hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, all leading to a covert society dedicated to guarding an ancient secret that has remained hidden for 2000 years. The pair set off on a thrilling quest through Paris, London and Scotland, collecting clues as they desperately attempt to crack the code and reveal secrets that will shake the very foundations of mankind.
Review:
Ron Howards directing, Tom Hanks the lead star, what can possibly go wrong? With Da Vinci Code, unfortunately a lot goes wrong. The Da Vinci Code for those living under a rock is one of the best selling books with a myth that can make more than two thousand years seem like utter blasphemy. However, its of course fiction and under ones beliefs which can be considered an opinion just like many other claims of existence. The story for this film is very well known, whether someone has read the book or not. I have not read the book, but was somewhat interested in reading it, but after I saw the film and many claiming to be quite similar, I have lost interest.
The Da Vinci Code has a solid cast featuring two leads by Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon and Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu. This film is evidence that the Tom Hanks of Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Castaway, Saving Private Ryan among others, is fading away. It has been four years since Hanks has delivered a great performance and this film doesn't do his acting justice. One can argue that the character did not offer much intensity, but even when scenes called out for some decent acting, Hanks did not deliver. Tom Hanks never made the character his own nor did he impress at anytime, it was a performance that would be acceptable from an average actor.
Its certainly a disappointment to see Hanks deliver a performance with no emotion and at times zero reaction to the enormous discoveries throughout the film. If an audience cannot buy into the characters than they simply will have a tough time to be affected by the picture. Audrey Tautou at times is decent enough, but digs herself deep into a hole other times. The two performances that stood out in this film were by far Paul Bettany who played Silas and Ian McKellen who played Sir Leigh Teabing. The Da Vinci Code is never thrilling enough to make one involved, but when either of these two are on the screen, the film is engaging.
Director Ron Howard is a superb director, one can notice that with films like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man. The visuals for Da Vinci Code are fantastic and the film looks stunning. There are some beautiful locations all across Europe and the scenery usually had a frightening tone to it. What fails with the direction in this film is the pacing, the films overlong and it never seems to be quite impressive. One cannot call this film boring though, thats one thing it is not. However, had Da Vinci Code been perhaps two hours rather than a two hour and a half film, it might have just worked better.
In other words, this should have been returned to the editing room. There are many scenes which could have been deleted and there were scenes that went on a bit too long. The dialogue in Da Vinci Code had hardly a positive factor in itself. One can expect to hear some impressive quotes from the characters, but not many are memorable. Most of the time, when the dialogue is impressive is when the flashbacks are taking place. The character development of Da Vinci Code doesn't start until a good half hour into the film, but by then one simply cannot seem to want to care about them.
Its a shame that Da Vinci Code is this flawed because this is a subject that will draw audiences whether they agree or disagree. Controversy becomes an act of curiosity and therefore results in a large box office intake. This film is unlikely to have the same effects as The Passion of The Christ did because it doesn't cross any major boundaries. In a filmmaking sense, Da Vinci Code has no intense situations when it asks for it. Outside of the visuals and its intriguing premise, this is a film that unfortunately falls flat into the mediocre level.
What The Da Vinci Code could have been is a breath of fresh air from all the mindless action flicks and the summer blockbusters packed with CGI. Instead, its disappointing to see talented celebrities do such a poor job. The film is anti-climatic and won't hold a viewers attention even with its mystery involving the bloodline of Jesus Christ. The ending for Da Vinci seems rushed and unexpected and makes you look at the last two hours as simply running around trying to continue the discovery of a treasure.
While it may seem like The Da Vinci Code is a bad film, it isn't entirely. It fits better under the mediocre level because it does get many things right as well. There are many of those that have high expectations and for those who get bored really easily will have a tough time enduring this film. This is meant for mature audiences and is very intellectual. It falls short in an emotional standpoint and in a solid filmmaking sense. Da Vinci Code may always be a delight to look at, but instead of being one of the most intense films of the year, it fails to impress.
