The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)
Dan Brown (novel)

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Seek The Truth

Plot:

A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Murder | Chase | Opus Dei | Mary Magdalene

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 16 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Dr. Robert Langdon
Audrey Tautou	...	Agent Sophie Neveu
Ian McKellen	...	Sir Leigh Teabing
Jean Reno	...	Captain Bezu Fache
Paul Bettany	...	Silas
Alfred Molina	...	Bishop Manuel Aringarosa
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Andre Vernet
Jean-Yves Berteloot	...	Remy Jean
Etienne Chicot	...	Lt. Collet
Jean-Pierre Marielle	...	Jacques Saunière
Marie-Françoise Audollent	...	Sister Sandrine
Rita Davies	...	Elegant Woman at Rosslyn
Francesco Carnelutti	...	Prefect
Seth Gabel	...	Michael
Shane Zaza	...	Youth on Bus

Also Known As:

The DaVinci Code (International: English title) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.

Runtime:

149 min | 174 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Ireland:15A | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Malaysia:18PL | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41475) | Poland:15 | Venezuela:PG-13 | Sweden:11 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Mexico:B15 | Hungary:16 | India:A | Spain:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:14 (original rating) | China:13 | Peru:14 | Italy:T (cinema rating) | Italy:VM18 (tv rating) | Taiwan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Ron Howard's wife, Cheryl, can be seen after Langdon's speech at the beginning, asking for him to sign his last book.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sophie and Robert first enter Westminster Abbey the entire right side (their perspective) is encased in scaffolding (not an uncommon sight in London). When they exit the Abbey less than an hour later the entire scaffolding has disappeared.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Silas: Stop now. Tell me where it is.
[removes hood]
Silas: You and your brethren possess what is not rightfully yours.
Jacques Saunière: I don't know what you are talking about.
Silas: Is it a secret you will die for?
Jacques Saunière: Please...
Silas: As you wish.
[cocks gun]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Kyrie for the Magdalene

The standard 'not as good as the book' applies here.

I can't say I was blown away by The Da Vinci Code - as is often the case, the book was far superior. I generally like Tom Hanks in almost all his roles, however I found that I had such a pre-conception of what Robert Langdon should be, that it took me about half an hour to get used to Hanks occupying this character. Once I settled into it though - it was a thoroughly enjoyable, occasionally slow moving thriller. Having read the book, I did have a knowledge of the various groups and factions involved - I'm not sure how someone who hasn't read the book will fair though. The casting of the movie is surely one of it's stronger points - Paul Bettany is almost unrecognisable and plays the menacing single minded Silas to utter perfection. Sir Ian McKellan too, it totally fantastic, and really steals most scene's he appears in. He delivers some great one liners too - a real character actor playing a real character. Audrey Tautou is as we have come to expect, just lovely, and who else could have played Bezu Fache - Jean Reno was made for the role. As you'd expect from a Ron Howard Production, there is a good amount of cheese, especially towards the end. Langdon's "Godspeed" caused me to awake in the night sweating! I am a fairly harsh marker on the IMDb, so don't be put off by a 6 out of 10 - I did enjoy the movie, but my anticipation was so great with this film, that it could never live up to my expectation.