Ron Howard: The Da Vinci Code

Ron Howard: The Da Vinci Code
Cinema Release Date: May 17, 2006
Film already available on DVD since: November 17, 2006
Directed by Ron Howard
With Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno, more
American feature film. Genre: Thriller
Time: 02h32min Production Year: 2006
Distributor: Gaumont Columbia Tristar Films


No other film could be more popular than this movie in America. It has already conquered the world at a warp speed. Honestly speaking, I have not read the book but of course I vaguely knew the story.

A film based on a book requires excellent understanding of the director. Before any such success it's a flop. Well, curiosity compels millions of readers to direct this movie, although in terms of quality and critics, almost all are negative.

Mine is no exception like its most audiences. I like most actors of the film and its director, Ron Howard, but that's really not the point. Of course, I cannot look over the book and assume my understanding based on its vision.

A good point, anyway, the script is the basis for the success of the book. The story moves all the basics of Christianity with force and it's history. The hypothesis developed by Dan Brown is not new, but he uses it very well. And that could make a very good movie, regarding to the Last Crusade in Christian history.

                                          The Da Vinci Code Official Trailer

It is therefore a Harvard professor specializing in history and symbols could tell us the history about the code. He comes to Paris to promote his latest book when the curator of the Louvre, is assassinated in a very strange ritual. Langdon (Tom Hanks, great for the role) is quickly accused of murder by the French police, headed by the Commissioner Fache (Jean Reno, always the same), an obscure member of Opus Dei, to make it short, wants to neutralize every revelation about the secret of Christ (which would have offspring with Mary Magdalene ...). Fortunately, Langdon can count on Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou, drinking vase) intrepid police assistance to escape the clutches of SRPJ and lead the investigation into this mystery.
Our two adventurers then are going to tell us about the secret about the code and searching for new clues  about it.

                                           The Da Vinci Code Trailer

The action takes place between Paris and London. The cast are not so bad actors doing what they can, but the problem lies mainly in the implementation of this scenario very convoluted. How to balance action and reflection? Ron Howard became entangled brushes and the result is chatty, at the limit of the stodgy, with the action completely fictitious. This is especially the latter which is pathetic. Langdon is not an adventurer, so he has its limited means. His opponent inflicted the stigmata and not talked to the French police the truth behind it. 

All religious-historical investigation systematically takes over and it is so linear that there is virtually no surprises. In addition, it is dark (most of the film takes place at night) and the director adds more scenes with historical illustrations (like the BBC documentary) or flashbacks to the childhood of a girl names Sophie. Sophie does not understand the secret  ... The end of the movie is really clumsy with a final "joke" by Sophie Neveu, who finds she can not walk on water ...

Thus, this adaptation is clearly missed because it deviates the rhythm main ideas accoding to the original book. Howard was stuck in the mass of clues to bring to the screen. One wonders what a Spielberg could do it with a script as interesting. We'll see what gives the sequel, "Angels and Demons," already out but not yet seen by myself ...