The Da Vinci Code
Director: Ron Howard
With: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou
Runtime: 149 min
Every year a few films are hyped to the high heavens prior to their release. Such excessive trumpeting is often treacherous because it raises expectations which inevitably far outstrip the film’s capacity to deliver. Unless the film is phenomenal, it will fail to live up to the media circus. This has been the case with The Da Vinci Code which has promised so much, but has massively failed to deliver.
The story follows unlikely hero Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist who becomes embroiled in a convoluted murder mystery regarding the Catholic Church and an ancient sect’s battle over the true nature of the Holy Grail. Ron Howard has remained admirably faithful to the original plot, although, inevitably, there are areas which have been ‘adapted’ to suit the Hollywood style.
What is perhaps the film’s greatest flaw is that it fails to translate the excitement and intrigue of the novel to the big screen. The massive controversy and fast-paced entertainment which is embedded in the original story is not so adequately reflected by the film, which is so terrified of causing offence that it stumbles back from both stepping on toes and raising heartbeats. Fatally, it is actually quite dull in places. Howard fails to strike the necessary balance between the extensive ‘talky’ parts and the adrenalin - boosting action and adventure. The movie becomes weighed down by ponderous intellectual expositions and theological jargon.
Many have criticised stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou as woefully miscast. In Hank’s case this isn’t entirely justifiable, but regardless of the actor’s suitability, the main problem for both stars is that neither character is charismatic enough to let the actors inject the chemistry which could have enlivened the flat narrative. Tautou in particular has astonishingly little to do throughout apart from a slightly perplexed reaction shot. The sparks of credibility and entertainment, if they are to be found anywhere, are in the supporting cast: Jean Reno, the ever wonderful Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, and in particular Paul Bettany as the sinister albino monk, Silas. Silas represents the main problem with this film: the lack of balance. While Paul Bettany is a great actor, and is superb as the desperate and terrifying hitman monk, he is also criminally underused and the reaction from the audience does not reflect the potential that the character had.
Ron Howard seems so cautious in his retelling that the film adds nothing new, and is therefore instantly forgettable as a story. Its real positives (like Hank Zermin’s perfectly eerie score) are lost in the confused and complacent quagmire. Whilst the book was one of the most talked about of the decade, the film will not be remembered this time next year and it is disappointing to report that The Da Vinci Code is overblown, long-winded and neither as engaging nor as entertaining as one would have hoped.
Reviewed by Rob Perkins
