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25/5/2006
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The Da Vinci Code (2006)
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A lot has already been said about this film. It got booed as it opened the Cannes film festival and it is easy to see why. The film is slow and lumbers from plot point to plot point with Langdon seemingly having little brain power and yet still solving clues with ease. Herein is the problem, I do not think that this is the role for Tom Hanks.
Do not get me wrong I like the guy, in the films I've seen him he has been an asset however he just doesn't seem to click with this one. He delivers lines like he's bored and makes the lead character kind of hateful. Indeed it is a breath of fresh air when we get to his friend Teebing's house as we meet Ian McKellen's character. McKellen brings some class to the proceedings and is a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the book of this film immensely and maybe that is my problem. Like other reviewers before me it is too easy to compare it to the book. The film does follow the book quite nicely however in keeping all of the action from the book you get the feeling that its on a smaller scale.
Also its true that we never find out anything about Langdon except that hes afraid of confined spaces and even this has very little point to the film except to make it 2hrs and a half long. This is far longer than it needs to be. With better screenwriting and a better lead this film would be a great one.
For positives we have Paul Bettany on top form as the Albino Opus Dei operative Silas. The problem here is we don't get his background. We get him self flagellating which is a hard to watch sequence. He is a thrilling character and a very strong villain. However the story built on his being called a ghost more than the film and it faulters. I also think that Audrey Toutou puts in a strong performance as Sophie Neveu and Jean Reno. The problem with the film following the book so closely is that when something does change it makes a big difference. I would give some examples but these would prove spoilers. There are some cases where its a case of stating the bloody obvious and some others where the main duo survive because of mainly luck. The clues fall to them easier than in the book and it doesn't feel like they've earnt the information.
I would not say that this is a bad film, however, nor would I say the opposite. It is a middling film that is destined to make more than it deserves at the box office. Brown's novel is a masterpiece and this doesn't do an adaptation justice. I just hope that angels and demons is a better offering.
Review by Jonathan Little
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