Angels & Demons Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 05.18.2009

Science and religion fight to the finish, but is it interesting?

Tom Hanks: Robert Langdon
Ewan McGregor: Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Ayelet Zurer: Vittoria Vetra
Stellan Skarsgaard: Commander Richter
Pierfrancesco Favino: Inspector Olivetti
Nikolaj Lie Kaas: Aassassin
Armin Meuller-Stahl: Cardinal Strauss
Thure Lindhardy: Chartrand
Directed By: Ron Howard
Written By: Akiva Goldsman
Release Date: May 15, 2009
Running Time: 2 hours and 18 minutes








Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.

George Santayana said “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” 3 years ago upon the release of The Da Vinci Code, a whirlwind of controversy erupted about the contents of Dan Brown’s novel, particularly how that would translate to the film, and how it would influence opinions. It was established then that it was a work of fiction. Here we are with the release of Angels & Demons, a whodunit that deals with religion, history, and deception. Once again certain members of the public are reading too much into what is meant as fiction. Are elements of truth utilized? Yes, but at no point is the story intended to persuade anyone that it is entirely true. It seems silly that folks are recycling past commotion that only occurred 3 years ago.

Personally, I have yet to meet the person who says, “Wow, so The Da Vinci Code is totally real?” Plenty of documentaries, books, and websites exist that set the record straight. It seems that the heaviest detractors are taking Brown’s work too seriously for no apparent reason. We need to move on. Stretching out the debates is tiresome, unnecessary, and a pain. Both movies weave history, codes, and mystery well into taut, tight, and engrossing thrillers. The worthwhile Angels & Demons was an early victim of the writer’s strike. The script was unfinished, and it had to wait until negotiations ceased. This movie was also in the news for having a hefty budget due to record salaries for Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and even screenwriter Akiva Goldsman. After all the hullabaloo, it has arrived, and ends up as an enjoyable experience that adapts the events of the book rather adroitly.

Despite being written before The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons has been slightly altered to be a sequel instead. No matter. It still follows Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), who is requested by the Vatican to investigate a conspiracy. He has a superior hairdo thankfully. The Pope has just died, but before conclave can begin the selection for his successor, four preferati are kidnapped. They are the primary hopefuls for the papacy. An ancient group known as the Illuminati is responsible. They plan to kill one of the four every hour as acts of retribution. If that wasn’t enough, the complete annihilation of Vatican City is at risk due to a combustible substance known as anti-matter that was stolen. One physicist who worked with the anti-matter, Vittoria Vetra (Aylete Zurer), accompanies Langdon as they race through Rome, decipher the clues, and identify objects that will lead them to the victims and the parties who constructed this scheme.

A live-action franchise is a great fit for Hanks at this stage of his career. He has accomplished just about everything an actor should strive for, and now he is simply having a blast doing his job. Hanks was always a suitable fit for Langdon, and he proves it again here. This is not his finest hour, but it certainly a superlative performance by a versatile actor. Langdon is an intelligent person, but also a geek. He is not James Bond. He is not an action hero that accepts these cases for the chase or the girls. He enjoys solving the unknown and unlocking secrets, much like Benjamin Gates in National Treasure, only better developed and more focused. This is not a character study picture by far, but various aspects of Langdon’s personality are uncovered in Angels & Demons, and it makes him a fascinating person.

The Camerlengo asks Langdon if he believes in God, and without spoiling his answer, I will just say it is quite intriguing. Director Ron Howard balances weighty material such as this conversation dexterously, confirming that this is an above-average piece of escapism. Ewan McGregor portrays Camerlengo Patrick McKenna, a cautious and dedicated man that wants the problem to be taken care of, but does not want to change historical policy, nor endanger the life of anyone in Vatican City. His decisions are not easy and do not please everyone unfortunately. Cardinal Strauss’ main goal is to prevent a media frenzy, and evacuating the Vatican would do just that. He demands that conclave proceed as planned. McGregor was a bizarre, but appropriate choice for the Camerlengo. He plays him as a man in control, but a little unsure of the scale of his importance now that the Pope is dead and no successor has been named. McGregor is solid, and has some terrific exchanges with Cardinal Strauss, depicted magnificently by Armin Meuller-Stahl.

Angels & Demons is not as star-studded an affair as The Da Vinci Code. The casting of Vittoria Vetra cements that. This is a role that could have been presented to any number of talented or popular women, but Ayelet Zurer was chosen, a relatively new face whose mainstream debut was the masterful Munich. Zurer possesses the spunk, energy, and knowledge that makes Vittoria such a memorable character. She manages to stay on course with Audrey Tatou from The Da Vinci Code, which is saying something. Zurer has a bright career ahead of her, and hopefully this is the kick start she needed. Another notable supporting role is Stellan Skarsgaard’s Commander Richter who does warm up to the idea of Langdon snooping around, and reinforces his authority whenever possible. It is a typical Skarsgaard turn with a twinge of unyielding spite.

Ron Howard, David Koepp, and Akiva Goldsman have collaborated marvelously to compact and simplify the lengthy novel. Langdon talks a lot, but it is not confusing, and it does not sound like trivial reciting of exposition. The clues are clear, and in case you did not hear the name of that church or monument mentioned through the echo of the buildings, bold white text is included so no destination or time is cloudy. This was appreciated in case viewers have never visited Rome. This is a case where all the proper sub-plots and mistakes of the book were either adjusted or cut out completely (*I have read the book, and the cuts were fine). The biggest flaw is toward the end, and concerns a parachute. Those who have seen it will understand, and it was more preposterous in the book if you can believe that. “Preposterous” is a common label for the story, but that is a obvious example of a desperate argument. Why not say the same thing about Live Free or Die Hard?

The Catholic Church has nothing to fear with this movie, but then, that phrase was uttered numerous times when The Da Vinci Code hit theaters. This is a good old fashioned puzzler, and I would bet that most of the people that put up such a fuss about the story have not seen or read the book or movie, and/or have never done the research to discover how truthful or fictitious the historical points are. These people judge books by their covers, and that is a shame. A battle between religion and science is a hypnotizing thread with which to craft a serial murderer tale, and undoubtedly applies in society currently. The messages contained in Angels & Demons are not offensive, and cast a sincere light on the topic that is consistently debated. The Vatican politics is enthralling, but not mean spirited. One line says it all: “Religion is flawed. Man is flawed.”

The same visual prowess Ron Howard expressed in Langdon's initial entanglement with the Vatican is on hand here as well. Angels & Demons possesses some startling and haunting images. Each of the brandings instills a lasting effect as inventive and disturbing. No one should have expected the Vatican to allow Howard’s production team access for shooting, but the stage and set design has been beautifully erected with precision detail. One of the most exhilarating sequences occurs in the visually stunning Vatican Archives where the air inside a vault is cut. Langdon and the guard must find a way to escape. Howard’s sense of energy, impartiality to subject matter, and aptitude for emphasizing locations meshes perfectly with Dan Brown’s books. Salvatore Totino’s cinematography compliments Howard’s methodology smoothly by evoking the grandeur of Rome, and Hans Zimmer’s stirring score keeps our blood pumping during this briskly paced adventure.

The reviews for Angels & Demons are roughly the same as The Da Vinci Code, but some noticeable differences arise in that a few critics who previously panned Da Vinci for being lumbering and dull, have now stated that Angels & Demons is an improvement. This is slightly hypocritical. The plot might be different, but it is the same sort of entertainment. For those that are still angry about this release, be aware that L'Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of Vatican City, described Angels & Demons as "more than two hours of harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity" and "a video game that first of all sparks curiosity and is also, maybe, a bit of fun." If they can accept it for what it is, a gripping and suspenseful mystery, why can’t the rest of the world?

The 411: Angels & Demons will not win over everyone, and to be truthful it does have some problems, but it accomplishes what is needed and is faithful to the novel. Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, and many more contribute to this engaging thriller that mixes history and religion in a most fascinating way. Is it better than The Da Vinci Code? I'd call them about equal, but it depends on your tastes I guess. Dan Brown’s next novel with Robert Langdon, The Lost Symbol, is set for a release later this year. It will no doubt be moving forward, but I can only hope that it will be as much fun as Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code. If you decide to see this, don’t take it so seriously. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]