Movie: “Angels & Demons”
Director: Ron Howard
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.
Release: May 15, 2009
Running Time: 2 hrs 18 min
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer… IMDB listing
Verdict:
Like most films based on a good book, Angels & Demons looses something in the translation.
Part of the difficulty is that much of the fascination with the book lies in its lapses into trivia-laden infotainment, all of which is sacrificed to time considerations in the film. Another problem is that the pacing of the book, which Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon through a frantic day-long race against time, simply can’t be replicated in a two hour film. A film simply can’t convey the passage of time and the wearying of characters the same way a novel can.
I would judge that, had I not read the book, Angels & Demons would have compared favorably with National Treasure, which had the advantage of not being held up to the expectations of legions of readers. As it stands, however, this adaptation falls flat for me as a Dan Brown reader, and I expect it will disappoint other readers as well. As such, I advise fellow readers to save their money and rent this film when it comes out on DVD.
For those who have not yet read the novel, this is an implausible but face-paced mystery that provides a nice break from the run-of-the mill explosions and gun play of Hollywood’s summer fare. It improves significantly on the DaVinci Code and has the added bonus of being set against the stunning backdrop of Vatican City. If you’re into mysteries, go see, if not, take a pass.
Synopsis:
When the Vatican police approach symbologist Robert Langdon as he’s doing laps in the Harvard pool, the last thing he expects is to face a vast conspiracy, but as the clues present themselves one by one, he’s confronted by the inevitable conclusion that the ancient brotherhood of the Illuminati has finally resurfaced to take its revenge against the Catholic church once and for all. Four Cardinals have been kidnapped from the heart of Rome, and a a container of “highly combustible” anti-matter – enough to level the Vatican – has been hidden somewhere in the city. Now, Langdon must join forces with physicist Vittoria Vetra, whose research partner was killed for the anti-matter to prevent disaster. Together, the pair race through the city following the clues left by the Illuminati’s founders to discover the long lost four alters of science in time to save four kidnapped Cardinals and uncover canister of anti-matter before midnight. But they soon find themselves hampered by unbelieving security forces, a skill assassin, and an unknown collaborator.
Review:
The Story
Angels & Demons is without a merely a shadow of the novel it has been adapted from.
The science and “history” that drove the storyline of the novel become imminently less plausible on the big screen, lending the whole affair an unfortunate element of campiness that isn’t present in the original story. Exclaiming over the destructive power of anti-matter on screen lends a surreal quality to a movie that isn’t Star Trek, and mentioning Galileo in the same scene doesn’t bolster credibility one iota. These references might have been more believable had they slowly been built up to in the natural course of intelligent dialog. However, the film’s break neck pace, while entertaining, prevents dialog from gaining much of a purchase on the situation.
Worsening the situation is the fact that the film’s script strips most of the personal motivations from the characters, reducing them to two dimensional figures. The initial murder of the film, for instance, is that of Vittoria’s research partner rather than her father, reducing her to side-kick status. Carlo Ventresca’s backstory is swiftly glossed over, and his relationship with the former Pope is never established, reducing all dimension from his character.
What’s more puzzling, is that many of the most cinematic features and scenes contained in the book are completely absent from the film. How does diving from a Papal helicopter without a parachute not make it into the movie? That’s not all that was absent. The dramatic timer counting down on the canister, the egotistical Arab assassin, the villainous rant, the BBC camera crew, the last minute trek through the maze beneath St. Peter’s, the harrowing helicopter flight… they’re all missing. Why? Strip the characters of their motivations and cut the most exciting elements, and all that’s left of the story is a shell.
The Cast
As always, Tom Hanks is pitch perfect. His affability and matter-of-fact manner fit Langdon’s character, while his intensity and charisma carry what might have otherwise been a complete wash. Without a doubt, his performance is the best part of Angels & Demons.
Ewan McGregor was a great casting choice for priest Patrick McKenna. His soft-spoken but intense nature are an ideal match for the character, despite the fact that it creates the expectation that, at any moment, he will perform the Jedi mind trick.
Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer fails to impress, despite a long history of powerful performances. Unfortunately, the simplicity of her role relegates her to a stereotypical damsel sidekick role. Still, at odd moments, there are hints that Zurer would have shined given half a chance.
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Further Information
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George Owells
