Film Snail

The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code

6.7

The Da Vinci Code

PG-13·2006·149m

Summary

A murder in Paris’ Louvre Museum and cryptic clues in some of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery. For 2,000 years a secret society closely guards information that — should it come to light — could rock the very foundations of Christianity.

Cast

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

Robert Langdon

Audrey Tautou

Audrey Tautou

Sophie Neveu

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Sir Leigh Teabing

Jean Reno

Jean Reno

Captain Bezu Fache

Paul Bettany

Paul Bettany

Silas

Alfred Molina

Alfred Molina

Bishop Manuel Aringarosa

Jürgen Prochnow

Jürgen Prochnow

André Vernet

Jean-Yves Berteloot

Jean-Yves Berteloot

Rémy Jean

Etienne Chicot

Etienne Chicot

Lt. Collet

Jean-Pierre Marielle

Jean-Pierre Marielle

Jacques Saunière

Marie-Françoise Audollent

Marie-Françoise Audollent

Sister Sandrine

Rita Davies

Rita Davies

Elegant Woman at Rosslyn

Francesco Carnelutti

Francesco Carnelutti

Perfect

Seth Gabel

Seth Gabel

Michael

Shane Zaza

Shane Zaza

Youth on Bus

Andy Clark

Docent

Fausto Maria Sciarappa

Fausto Maria Sciarappa

Youngest Church Official

Joe Grossi

Joe Grossi

Old Church Official

Denis Podalydès

Denis Podalydès

Flight Controller

Harry Taylor

Harry Taylor

British Police Captain

Clive Carter

Biggin Hill Police Captain

Garance Mazureck

Garance Mazureck

Sophie at 13 Years

Daisy Doidge-Hill

Daisy Doidge-Hill

Sophie at 8 Years

Lilli-Ella Kelleher

Sophie at 3 Years

Crisian Emanuel

Crisian Emanuel

Sophie's Mother

Charlotte Graham

Charlotte Graham

Mary Magdelene

Xavier de Guillebon

Xavier de Guillebon

Junkie

Tonio Descanvelle

Tonio Descanvelle

Bank Guard

David Bark-Jones

David Bark-Jones

Hawker Pilot

Seretta Wilson

Seretta Wilson

American Woman

Eglantine Rembauville-Nicolle

Eglantine Rembauville-Nicolle

Student

Dan Tondowski

Dan Tondowski

Student

Aewia Huillet

Aewia Huillet

Student

Roland John-Leopoldie

Roland John-Leopoldie

Student

David Saracino

David Saracino

DCPJ Agent

Lionel Guy-Bremond

Officer Ledoux

Yves Aubert

Louvre Computer Cop

Rachael Black

Rachael Black

Policewoman

Dez Drummond

London Police

Mark Roper

Mark Roper

London Police

Brock Little

American Embassy Cop

Matthew Butler-Hart

Westminster Cop

Roland Menou

Roland Menou

DCPJ Technician

Hugh Mitchell

Hugh Mitchell

Young Silas

Tina Maskell

Silas' Mother

Peter Pedrero

Peter Pedrero

Silas' Father

Sam Mancuso

Sam Mancuso

Pope

Andre Lillis

Andre Lillis

Pope

Mario Vernazza

Mario Vernazza

Young Constantine

Agathe Natanson

Agathe Natanson

Ritual Priestress

Daz Parker

Peasant Mother

Andy Robb

Andy Robb

Peasant Father

Tom Barker

Peasant Boy

Maggie McEwan

Peasant Girl

Michael Bertenshaw

Michael Bertenshaw

Priest

Sarah Wildor

Sarah Wildor

Priestess

David Bertrand

David Bertrand

French Newscaster

Dan Brown

Dan Brown

Book signing party guest (uncredited)

Rene Costa

Rene Costa

Man in a Black Suit on Bus (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Ron Howard

Novel

Dan Brown

Screenplay

Akiva Goldsman

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

September 2, 2019

7

Each breath you take is a sin. No shadow will be safe again, for you will be hunted by angels.

The Da Vinci Code is directed by Ron Howard and adapted to screenplay by Akiva Goldsman from the novel of the same name written by Dan Brown. It stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina and Jürgen Prochnow. Music is scored by Hans Zimmer and cinematography by Salvatore Totino.

When a man is murdered inside the Louvre, his body is found to be surrounded by cryptic messages. The police call in American symbology expert Robert Langdon (Hanks) to decode the clues. When he is joined by Parisian cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Tautou), it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it first seems and a mystery begins to unravel that could shake Christianity to its very core.

Extended Cut (Blu-ray) Version Viewed.

I haven't read the book! And I love treasure hunt/clue chasing movies! So I came to Ron Howard's hugely successful film (over $600 million in worldwide profit) bereft of literary pressure and with only a modicum of genre expectation. Perhaps this is why I'm apparently only in a small percentage of film lovers who really enjoyed the film? In spite of those gargantuan financial figures.

Ultimately it's very safe film making, with a director and cast guaranteeing professionalism, but it weaves a magical mystery tour full of cryptic clues, secret organisations and cover ups. Yes, there is a good deal of corn thrown in as well, which inevitably stops the adaptation from being hyper intelligent. There's also an understanding on my part as to why many feel it's just too talky, but was the film ever going to be unfurled as an action movie blockbuster for the popcorn munching crowd, like National Treasure et al?

It is a clever conspiracy thriller full of twists and turns with a outlandish revelation at the finale. It's also very appropriately performed by the cast (serio brooding and fret), and when McKellen joins the fray after an hour of film it has a little class as well, while Zimmer's score is a majestic blending of choir, strings and synths. I maintain that the film didn't deserve the critical whacking it got, but again I say I had a blank canvas going in for my first viewing.

I wasn't sold to it because of controversy or had a saliva tinged mouth having worshipped at the altar of Dan Brown, I expected exactly what I got. A flawed but ever so intriguing adult mystery thriller, and not even Hanks' hair stopped me having a great time with the movie. 7/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$125,000,000.00

Revenue:

$767,800,000.00

Keywords

paris, france
based on novel or book
holy grail
christianity
monk
secret society
louvre museum
heresy
mona lisa (la gioconda)
freemason
pentagram
conspiracy
tomb
catholicism
cryptologist
iconography
albino
sect