The Da Vinci Code (film)

The Da Vinci Code (film)
source
Name	The Da Vinci Code
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Ron Howard
Producer	Brian Grazer, John Calley
Screenplay	Akiva Goldsman
Based on	The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Starring	Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno
Music	Hans Zimmer
Cinematography	Salvatore Totino
Editing	Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Studio	Columbia Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Distributor	Sony Pictures Releasing
Released	2006, 05, 17, Cannes Film Festival, 2006, 05, 19, United States
Runtime	149 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English, French, Latin, Spanish
Budget	$125 million
Gross	$760 million

The Da Vinci Code (film) is a 2006 American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman, based on the 2003 bestselling novel of the same name by Dan Brown. The film stars Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbology professor who becomes entangled in a murder investigation at the Louvre in Paris, leading him to uncover a centuries-old conspiracy within the Catholic Church. Supported by a cast including Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, and Paul Bettany, the narrative weaves through iconic European locations, blending art history, religious symbology, and speculative fiction into a fast-paced cinematic adventure.

Plot

Following the murder of Jacques Saunière, the curator of the Louvre, Robert Langdon is summoned by French police captain Bezu Fache (Jean Reno) to the crime scene, where he becomes the prime suspect. Saunière's granddaughter, cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), secretly aids Langdon, revealing her grandfather left a series of cryptic clues linked to the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Their investigation leads them to the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Château de Villette, pursued by Fache and a self-flagellating Opus Dei albino monk named Silas (Paul Bettany). They seek the help of Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), a historian who explains the theory of a secret society, the Priory of Sion, guarding the location of the Holy Grail, which he claims is not a chalice but the sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene and evidence of her marriage to Jesus Christ. The trail of clues, involving the Vitruvian Man and The Last Supper, culminates at Westminster Abbey and the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, revealing Neveu's hidden lineage and the true identity of the mysterious Teacher orchestrating the hunt.

Cast

* Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a Harvard University professor of religious symbology. * Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, a French cryptologist for the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire and Saunière's granddaughter. * Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing, a wealthy British historian and Grail scholar. * Alfred Molina as Bishop Manuel Aringarosa, the head of the Opus Dei prelature. * Jürgen Prochnow as André Vernet, a banker at the Depository Bank of Zurich. * Paul Bettany as Silas, a murderous albino monk and member of Opus Dei. * Jean Reno as Captain Bezu Fache, a French police detective with the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire. * Etienne Chicot as Lieutenant Jérôme Collet, Fache's subordinate. * Jean-Pierre Marielle as Jacques Saunière, the curator of the Louvre. * Hugh Mitchell as the young Silas. * Seth Gabel as the young Manuel Aringarosa. * Marie-Françoise Audollent as Sister Sandrine, a member of the Priory of Sion at Saint-Sulpice.

Production

Development began at Columbia Pictures after the studio acquired the film rights to Dan Brown's novel prior to its publication. Director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, who had previously collaborated on A Beautiful Mind, reunited for the project. Principal photography commenced in mid-2005, with extensive on-location shooting at the Louvre in Paris, requiring special permission and closed sets. Key scenes were also filmed at Lincoln Cathedral in England, which doubled for Westminster Abbey, and at the actual Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. The production faced logistical challenges in recreating the novel's intricate puzzles and securing access to historically significant sites. Hans Zimmer composed the score, which incorporated elements of Gregorian chant and modern orchestration to heighten the film's suspenseful and theological themes.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2006, where it was met with vocal criticism from segments of the audience. It was released theatrically in the United States and numerous other countries by Sony Pictures Releasing on May 19, 2006. The release was accompanied by a significant marketing campaign and widespread protests from some Christian groups. It was later released on DVD and Blu-ray in November 2006, featuring extended scenes and documentary material about the novel's historical claims. The film's commercial success led to the 2009 sequel, Angels & Demons, also directed by Howard and starring Hanks.

Reception

Critical reception was predominantly negative, with many reviewers criticizing its lengthy runtime, dense exposition, and perceived lack of cinematic tension compared to the source material. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 25% approval rating based on 221 reviews. However, the film was a major box office success, grossing over $760 million worldwide against a $125 million budget, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2006. Tom Hanks' performance was often noted as capable, while Ian McKellen's turn as Leigh Teabing received some praise. The film was nominated for several awards, including a Razzie Award for Worst Picture, but also received a People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie.

Historical and religious controversy

The film, like the novel, provoked intense debate and condemnation from various Christian denominations, particularly the Catholic Church and Opus Dei, for its fictional depiction of Church history and its speculative claims about Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The Archdiocese of Manila and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines called for a boycott, while Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone publicly criticized its historical inaccuracies. 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