ANGELS & DEMONS
Swinging from London to Rome, Ron Howard’s follow up to the ‘Da Vinci Code’ is less sensational but more cinematic.
by Vishal Verma

A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Columbia Pictures and Imagine Entertainment presentation of a Brian Grazer/John Calley production. Produced by Grazer, Ron Howard, Calley. Executive producers, Todd Hallowell, Dan Brown. Directed by Ron Howard. Screenplay, David Koepp, Akiva Goldsman, based on the novel by Dan Brown. Genre: Thriller. Target Audience: General.

(English, Italian, German, Latin dialogue)

Starring

Robert Langdon...... Tom Hanks
Camerlengo...... Ewan McGregor
Vittoria Vetra...... Ayelet Zurer
Commander Richter...... Stellan Skarsgard
Assassin...... Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Chartrand...... Thure Lindhardt
Claudio Vincenzi...... David Pasquesi
Father Simeon...... Cosimo Fusco
Lt. Valenti...... Victor Alfieri

Technical Analysis

A board outside an undertaker’s shop in Bandra (a Mumbai suburb) reads “People are dying for our services”. Still guessing, well I am only trying to add some sensationalism to Ron Howard’s follow-up to the ‘Da Vinci Code’ titled ‘Angels & Demons’.

‘Da Vinci Code’ challenged the existence of God & it became a debatable issue. Whereas, ‘Angels & Demons’ is a more simple collision of science & religion told as a thriller keeping an eye on the watch of the viewer. Although "Angels & Demons" was the first novel to feature Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, the film version is sensibly positioned as a sequel to "Da Vinci" in which Tom Hanks looks more fitter then three years ago.

Director Ron Howard, back from "Da Vinci," keeps things moving fast enough - the clock is ticking, after all - that you don't linger over the implausibility of the story. And the film looks great, the religious iconography lovingly shot by director of photography Salvatore Totino.

As for the Catholic Church, certainly some of its highest-ranking members are imperiled or worse. And while its treatment of scientists like Galileo - himself a Catholic - is talked about, the film also portrays the church many times as a force of good. There is discussion of the balance between science and faith and trying to resolve the two, something any religion, and any scientist, for that matter, must face eventually.

Up to a point, a puzzle-solving momentum carries the film. For one who hasn't read the book, there is too much exposition to swallow, let alone digest. But even while gagging on plot, the location shots are thoroughly enjoyable & the artful reproductions of St. Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel (shot in L.A.) is magnificently done. The sets so persuasively reproduce the actual locations that you can almost smell the Tiber and feel St. Peter's marble chill.

As is the new convention in thrillers, Angels & Demons’ concludes, twists, concludes, and twists again. Making it a good one time watch.

Note: don’t look for sensationalisms in this follow-up of the ‘ Da Vinchi Code’ increase your degree of forgiveness & enjoy this fast –paced thriller.

The movie gets 3 out of five. One for the setting. One for the direction & camerawork. The last one for Tom Hanks brilliant performance.

The Story

The team behind the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code returns for the highly anticipated Angels & Demons, based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role in the screenplay by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals.

What terrifying discovery would make the Vatican turn to Robert Langdon, the man who cracked history's most controversial code? When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati "the most powerful underground organization in history" he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization's most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. Upon learning that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, Langdon travels to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow the 400-year-old Path of Illumination that marks the Vatican's only hope for survival.

Business Analysis

‘Angels & Demons’ is more cinematic then ‘Da Vinci Code’ but unfortunately its India release is limited only to single screens till now. Though the impasse between UPDF (United Producers & Distributors Forum) & the plex owners is now unofficially over & new releases will hit the multiple screens hopefully from June 5, Anyway ‘Angels & Demons’ has an open market with almost no competition, the publicity associated with it has only increased its curiosity which will attract decent legs to the theatres but it is not likely to surpass or come near to the popularity of ‘Da Vinci Code’.

Other Credits

Camera (Deluxe color, widescreen), Salvatore Totino; editors, Dan Hanley, Mike Hill; music, Hans Zimmer; production designer, Allan Cameron; supervising art director, Giles Masters; art directors, Keith P. Cunningham, Dawn Swiderski, Luke Freeborn; set designers, Patte Strong-Lord, Jeff Markwith; set decorator, Robert Gould; costume designer, Daniel Orlandi; sound (Dolby Digital/SDDS/DTS), Peter J. Devlin; supervising sound editor, Chic Ciccolini III; supervising sound mixers, Tom Fleischman, Greg P. Russell; sound designer, Daniel Pagan; visual effects supervisor, Angus Bickerton; visual effects, Double Negative, CIS Vancouver, the Moving Picture Co., the Senate VFX, Model Unit; special effects supervisor, Clay Pinney; stunt coordinator, Brad Martin; associate producers, Kathleen McGill, Louisa Velis, William M. Connor; assistant director, Connor; second unit director, Todd Hallowell; second unit camera, Josh Bleibtreu; additional editor, Robert Komatsu; casting, Jane Jenkins, Janet Hirshenson, Michelle Lewitt, Beatrice Kruger, Debbie McWilliams. Media Awareness (India): Rahi Communications. Reviewed at Famous studios Preview Theatre on May 28, 2009. Running time: 138 MIN.

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