Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno in the Ron Howard movie ‘The Da Vinci Code’

Released as a movie in May 2006, the adaptation of the 2003 Dan Brown book The Da Vinci Code became the Ron Howard directed movie The Da Vinci Code (2006). With screenplay writing credit for Akiva Goldsman, the movie focuses on “art history, Christianity’s origins, and arcane theories,” as mentioned here.

(Jean-Pierre Marielle as Jacques Saunière in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The movie begins with the pursuit if Louvre Museum curator Jacques Saunière, as portrayed by Jean-Pierre Marielle, in the world famous Paris, France art museum by Roman Catholic, albino monk named Silas; Silas was portrayed by Paul Bettany. Saunière, while coming out of the exchange dead, leaves clues amongst the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci, the namesake for the movie, the book, and the clues embedded in the art around the museum that lead the police to summon renowned Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon to the case.

(From left, Paul Bettany as Silas and Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Robert Langdon, as portrayed by Tom Hanks, initially is suspected of the murder of Jacques Saunière, by police captain Bezu Fache, as portrayed by Jean Reno. Police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, as portrayed by Audrey Tautou, disagrees that that Langdon should be suspected of her grandfather’s, that is Saunière’s, murder; Neveu and Langdon shake Fache’s pursuit and deduce that Saunière was a grand master of the French founded Priory of Sion.

(From left, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu and Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon near the Louvre Museum in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Silas, meanwhile, works for an anonymous to him person he calls The Teacher, which has links to the Bishop Aringarosa led Opus Dei. Aringarosa, as portrayed by Alfred Molina. Circumstances send Langdon and Neveu to Sir Leigh Teabing, as portrayed by Ian McKellan.

(Jean Reno as Police Captain Bezu Fache in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

It was Teabing, a purported expert on the Holy Grail, who introduces a theory contrary to accepted religious canon about a relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, which motivated much of the subtextual mystery functioning in the movie. Charlotte Graham portrayed Mary Magdalene in The Da Vinci Code.

(Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The thriller aspects of the movie, along with the intrigue underpinning the mysteries animating the story for the movie, largely worked. That the resolution went in the direction it did was a bit provocative for my taste, though that does not mean the fiction did not work. I give The Da Vinci Code as directed by Ron Howard 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Saturday, March 23, 2024

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman in the Tim Burton movie ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’

Tim Burton directed the musical slasher movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). The 1979 Tony Award winning musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler was adapted into the movie starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman.

(From left, Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd (aka Benjamin Barker) and Helena Bonham Carter as Nellie Lovett in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

We are introduced to the stories central plot when Benjamin Barker arrives in mid-19th century London, England with sailor Anthony Hope. We learn that Hope coaxed Barker back home from an illegitimate exile to Australia by a corrupt judge who had falsely sustained a conviction of Barker 15-years previous. Barker adopts the alias Sweeney Todd, resuming his life as a barber bent on the revenge for the wrongs done him at the hands of the corrupt judge. Jamie Campbell Bower portrayed sailor Anthony Hope.

(From left, Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

Alan Rickman portrayed the corrupt Judge Turpin, who we learn had physically amorous feelings for Lucy Barker, the wife of Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd) and the mother of the couple’s biological daughter, Johanna Barker. We learn that Turpin raped Lucy and took custody of Johanna in advance of exiling Benjamin. Lucy, we learn, had poisoned herself with arsenic. Jayne Wisener portrayed Johanna Barker. Laura Michelle Kelly portrayed Lucy Barker, aka Beggar Woman.

(Clockwise from top left, Laura Michelle Kelly as Lucy Barker (aka Beggar Woman), Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony Hope and Jayne Wisener as Johanna Barker in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

As Anthony Hope becomes enamored of Johanna without an awareness for any of this backstory, he is driven away from Judge Turpin’s ward by Turpin’s henchman, Beadle Bamford. Bamford, as portrayed by Timothy Spall, also offers some sideways assistance to the revenge motive of Benjamin Barker when he adjudicates a disagreement between Barker (as Sweeney Todd) and Adolfo Pirelli (aka Davy Collins). Pirelli, aka Collins, was portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen.

(From left, Nick Haverson as Pirelli & Todd Customer, Sacha Baron Cohen as Adolfo Pirelli (aka Davy Collins) and Ed Sanders as Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

It is through Pirelli that Barker meets Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg. Ragg, Pirelli’s young assistant, helps to cement the relationship between Benjamin Barker and Nellie Lovett that makes the plot we see through the movie possible. Lovett runs the meat pie shop located below Benjamin Barker’s barbershop, where she sells the “worst pies in London.” Much of the background for Lucy Barker’s fate after Benjamin’s exile is learned through Lovett, as portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter. The details, connections, fates and flaws for all these characters truly are part of the charm that suggests watching the movie. Ed Sanders portrayed Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg.

(From left, director Tim Burton, composer, songwriter and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and actress Helena Bonham Carter on site of the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

The film version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street did undergo streamlining of sorts when compared to the overall story and the music included with the movie. The smaller movie emphasis on the relationship between Anthony Hope and Johanna Barker offered a notable example of this. The overall sense of the macabre combined with a distinctly Burton visual palette and storytelling gave the movie the quirky feeling of oddness that struck the strongest point of resonance for me. I give Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as directed by Tim Burton 4-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, April 30, 2022

Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore and David Kelly in the Tim Burton movie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

Turning our attention today to a family comedy mixed with adventure, we look to the Tim Burton directed movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Based on the 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by British writer Roald Dahl, the movie by the same name also is predated by the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Dahl received screenwriting credit for the 1971 film, though not the 2005 film direct by Burton.

(From left, Noah Taylor as Mr. Bucket, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Bucket, Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket and David Kelly as Grandpa Joe in the Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

The movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory introduces the audience to the underprivileged Bucket family. Noah Taylor and Helena Bonham Carter portray the parents to young Charlie Bucket, as portrayed by Freddie Highmore. Four of Charlie’s grandparents lived with his parents and him, with a special connection for Charlie with his Grandpa Joe. David Kelly portrayed Grandpa Joe.

(From left, Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and Christopher Lee as Dr. Wilbur Wonka in the Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

Before heading deeply into the nature of Charlie’s connection to a chocolate factory, the connection one Willy Wonka has with candy as an adult and into his childhood is introduced. Dr. Wilbur Wonka, dentist, takes a dim view of the confectionary arts for his one and only son. The vocational paths for father and son, as portrayed by Christopher Lee and Johnny Depp, gain voice in their early interactions. Years later, the circumstances for a contest with five prized tickets for entry is hatched.

(From left, James Fox as Mr. Salt, Julia Winter as Veruca Salt, Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket, David Kelly as Grandpa Joe, Philip Wiegratz as Augustus Gloop, Franziska Troegner as Mrs. Gloop, AnnaSophia Robb as Violet Beauregarde, Missi Pyle as Mrs. Beauregarde, Jordan Fry as Mike Teavee and Adam Godley as Mr. Teavee in the Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

The intrigue in for who goes to the chocolate factory stands well in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, functioning as the character introduction needed to learn of the five kids and their accompanying parent or grandparent. For those familiar with the 1971 movie, the sweetness of Charlie is slightly less drawn here. The playfulness rests a bit more with Willy Wonka at this early stage, with the feel of intrigue and charm updated with a more modern sensibility.

(Deep Roy as Oompa Loompa in the Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

The hallmarks of the chocolate factory are presented with a directness that bespeaks actors defining themselves in their roles with distinctions from the precursor movie. The musical interludes and storytelling capture not so much an air of cautionary tale in parenting style or manner of behavior within the kids. The aim is more for wisecrack and explication of trouble for one Willy Wonka back to childhood. We get a clearer sense of the leading Oompa Loompa. Deep Roy portrayed multiple iterations of an Oompa Loompa in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

(From left, actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton in the Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

The payoff for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory rests on a handful of factors. First, this movie is more faithful to the source book than it is to the source movie. Second, the sensibility felt heavier and more adult in focusing less on the imaginary and aspirational and more on the notions of different and odd. Finally, getting into the familial for Willy Wonka was an unexpected turn for many, adding a dimension that I found had its own charm. I grant Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as directed by Tim Burton 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, November 13, 2021