Angels & Demons (2009)

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

David Koepp (screenplay), Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Robert Langdon
Ewan McGregor	...	Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Ayelet Zurer	...	Vittoria Vetra
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Commander Richter
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Inspector Olivetti
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Assassin
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Cardinal Strauss
Thure Lindhardt	...	Chartrand
David Pasquesi	...	Claudio Vincenzi
Cosimo Fusco	...	Father Simeon
Victor Alfieri	...	Lieutenant Valenti
Franklin Amobi	...	Cardinal Lamasse
Curt Lowens	...	Cardinal Ebner
Bob Yerkes	...	Cardinal Guidera
Marc Fiorini	...	Cardinal Baggia (as Marco Fiorini)

Storyline

Following the murder of a physicist, Father Silvano Bentivoglio, a symbolist, Robert Langdon, and a scientist, Vittoria Vetra, are on an adventure involving a secret brotherhood, the Illuminati. Clues lead them all around the Vatican, including the four altars of science, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. An assassin, working for the Illuminati, has captured four cardinals, and murders each, painfully. Robert and Vittoria also are searching for a new very destructive weapon that could kill millions.

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Plot Keywords:

illuminati | reference to bernini | reference to raphael | murder of a priest | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

The holiest event of our time. Perfect for their return.

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian Latin French Swiss German German Chinese Spanish Polish

Release Date:

15 May 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Obelisk

Filming Locations:

UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$46,204,168, 17 May 2009

Gross USA:

$133,375,846

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$485,930,816

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Skylark Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min 146 min (extended edition)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The production had to build a scale replica of St. Peter's Square since Vatican officers banned the movie from being filmed on its grounds.

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Goofs

After minute 40, Langdon has barely read any of the secret text before she tears it off. But in the car he says "Hold on Hold on, Let me see that page again" when the driver asks him where to go and then asks to see the text.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: The Ring of the Fisherman, which bears the official papal seal, must be destroyed immediately following the Pope's death. The papal apartment is then sealed for nine days of mourning, a period known as "Sede Vacante", the time of the empty throne.

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Crazy Credits

At the very beginning, when the Columbia girl is standing holding aloft the torch, it flickers like the anti-matter.

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Alternate Versions

The cut UK theatrical version was also used for the DVD release in the UK. In addition, the same version was also released on DVD in Germany although the uncut version was shown theatrically.

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Connections

Referenced in Pastor Mike Online: Guns, Sex and DNA (2013)

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Soundtracks

Immaculate Mary
(uncredited)
Traditional Lourdes hymn

User Reviews

Despite its obvious flaws, A&D is surprisingly good.

Before seeing the sneak preview today of Angels & Demons, I cleared my mind of any uncertainties that might hold me back from enjoying it; the enormous amount of hatred towards Dan Brown, the fact that it was written by Dan Brown, and because Dan Brown's name is slapped on all of the posters. I went in with an open mind, and expected the worse, but instead what I got was a 2 and a half hour Roman cat and mouse game with Forrest Gump, and that is by all means good entertainment value.

The movie hangs loosely on the actual novel itself. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) jets off to Rome after the Pope's sudden death and the re-election through Papal Conclave. Arranging all of this is the carmelengo, Patrick McKenna (McGregor). However, he soon learns of a new threat, one that involves a secret brotherhood making its presence known, an anti-matter time bomb that Vatican City is now targeted with and the kidnapping of four cardinals. Langdon, using his intellects (and trust me, you'll be hearing a LOT from it) is given the task of finding and rescuing them using the mysterious Path of Illumination. Aiding him on the quest is CERN scientist Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), who is also the co-creator of the anti-matter.

The movie itself runs at an uneven pace. One minute Langdon and the Swiss Guard are speeding to save a branded cardinal, the next minute he bores you with pointless information about every random object he passes, evidently slowing the book's much anticipated action/thriller sequences down. It makes for an interesting read on paper, but on screen it can go either way.

The character's are decently written onto the big screen. Ewan McGregor does a convincing performance as the quiet but knowledgeable Patrick McKenna, famous accent included. Tom Hanks is slightly more agile, intellectually and physically, since his last performance in the mediocre Da Vinci Code. Stellen Skarsgard plays Commander Richter, the straight-faced leader of the Swiss Guard. Unfortunately, neither his nor Ayelet Zurer's performance are worthwhile ones, and instead of playing a part in the story, they are just kicked aside as assets.

However, Angels & Demons accomplishes what DVC could never; a thrilling fast-paced movie filled with satisfying explosions, beautiful recreations of St. Peter's Square and Basilica (including many of the churches) and a pulsing bomb counting down the midnight hour. Ron Howard does a decent job at directing this second Langdon adventure, this time taking in much criticism and almost completely exchanging the boring dialogue for tense chases (almost).

While newcomers might call it a "National Treasure 3" with a much larger threat, there is still enough contagious suspense/thriller eye-candy and brilliant still shots of Rome to breathe in. Fans of the book might feel differently towards the movies drastic changes, but considering the amount of blasphemy and inaccuracy it generates, A&D does exceedingly well at keeping the viewer locked on to the screen this time rather than on their sleepy shoulder.

A good book-to-movie adaption that will both appeal and entertain.

7.4/10