The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina Script: Akiva Goldsman Director of Photography: Salvatore Totino Director: Ron Howard Plot:  A symbologist professor and a female cryptologist get entangled in a race against time to find a secret that could destroy the Church after the curator for The Louvre is found murdered next to the Mona Lisa.

Review:

A semi-fictional treasure-hunt into Christianity's history, the film adaptation of the virtual pop phenomena that is Dan Brown's international best-seller The Da Vinci Code is pretty much what one would expect, but it should have been so much more.

The script is a rather faithful adaptation, despite some short-cuts and expected cinematic liberties, playing out like a Cliff's Notes version of the book. The concepts brought up aren't new, nor were they when the book was released, but the story links varied sources of information and fiction to provide a tale that has resonated with the public. Though the "mystery revelations" have been kept intact, the most interesting aspects of the book were the extended exposition scenes that reveled in the fascinating historical facts and the author's clever but tenuous links, and these had to go by the way-side. What's left is still intriguing for some and will be tedious to others. One disappointing aspect, however, is that the movie tries to keep its controversial ideas "politically correct", pushing Langdon into becoming the balancing voice for McKellan's "heretical" theories.

The problem is that seen solely as a thriller it all comes off as a bit dull - not that it's ever boring, but the pacing is erratic, the visuals are uninteresting, and there's too little intrigue. Worse, when it tries for action it's rather scattershot. Heck, National Treasure, despite its inherent silliness, worked better as an adventure film than this one. With director Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind) at the helm, this should have been a fast-paced guilty pleasure, but he's decided to shoot it in the straightforward and soulless manner one would have expected from a TV movie, not a big-budget production.

A depiction of the magnificent art and architecture that are alluded in the book would have been welcome, but what we get is only brief glimpses at the churches and Da Vinci paintings, yet lots of uninteresting close-ups of the actors. One nice touch are the short, color-blind historical flashbacks that add some much needed spice.

Even at over two hours, some others items are a rushed, and the first victims are the characters who never get any kind of personality, their back stories told in supra-edited flashbacks. French actress Tautou is terrific and McKellan is at his campy extreme, but Hanks seems too demure and quiet to make any impression. Thankfully, there are interesting supporting roles by a bevy of B-list actors like Molina as the Opus Dei priest, Jean Reno as the obsessed detective, and Paul Bettany as the Albino monk / assassin.

In the end, much like the book, the movie is a very commercial entertainment - high concept broken down for easy popular consumption - but it falters due to its huge baggage and high expectations set forth. Still, on its own The Da Vinci Code is a decent enough, smart enough thriller that's worth the trip if only to present a different view of accepted history.

Entertainment: 6/10

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