Director:
Ron Howard

Cast:
Tom Hanks
Audrey Tautou
Ian McKellan
Paul Bettany

Official URL:

http://www.sodarktheconofman.com

Country: USA
Rating: PG-13
Studio Name: Sony Pictures.
Running Time: 2 hr 0 mins
Release Date: May 19, 2006

Critics's Rating:
(2 1/2 out of 4 Reels) 

May 19, 2006

By Veronica Mixon

First off, I didn’t read the book but instead heard about the controversy surrounding the novel and its ideas. Secondly, as this riveting mystery unfolded, I realized that if Ron Howard was a better filmmaker, The Da Vinci Code would be a crackling thriller. Instead, under Howard’s direction we get a slightly wobbly story with an excellent cast and some breathtaking history that reveals itself a leisurely pace instead of an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

The film opens with a grizzly murder in the Louvre and though the man was shot, he’s covered with bloody symbols and cryptic messages. The French policeman (Jean Reno, in a thankless role), who works for an organization like the French FBI, calls upon Prof. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) for his expert opinion. Landon is joined by police cryptologist, Sophie Neveu (played by Amelie’s Audrey Tautou), who tells him that the victim was her estranged grandfather who had reached out to her on that very day. Suddenly, the two are being chased by police and a murderous albino monk (Paul Bettany) who is carrying out the orders of an ambitious Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina). At the heart of the mystery is an idea which the Bishop feels could destroy the Catholic Church. As Langdon and Sophie follow clues that have been left through the centuries, they have become the objects of global religious politics. If they solve a series of riddles concerning Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Last Supper, Sir Isaac Newton and Fibonacci number games, will they crush the faith of millions by revealing a hidden truth? Certainly, Silas the monk and the Bishop think so. And the energetic English millionaire Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), who is an expert on the Holy Grail, wants them to succeed.

Does Ian McKellen ever give a bad performance? Just when the movie truly starts to lag – and I gave it a lot of latitude because I love these religious puzzle movies! – McKellen steps in and nearly re-invents the action. His long explanatory monologue is superb! Tom Hanks is good but Howard has not created an exciting tableau for either Hanks or Ms. Tautou to excel upon. Instead, Hanks crinkles his eyes pondering while Ms. Tautou, who was so excellent in the drama, Dirty Pretty Things wastes her emotions repeating dull memories of her childhood.

The Da Vinci Code has all of the elements for a rousing, fast-paced thrill ride – and it has some illuminating moments – I loved the fleur de lis key and the safety deposit box! Nevertheless, unfortunately, the movie simply limps along.

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