At the crossroads of Christianity I stand... and it sure is inspiring!
Professor Robert Langley ( (Tom Hanks) is the main character here, accompanied by the dark and beautiful Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) - the daughter to an old friend who one night is killed at The Louvre in France. A police officer shows up intent on proving that Robert is the murderer, and they embark on both an escape and a chase - escape from what turns out to be a bigger threat than just the police, and a chase after the very foundation of Christian faith: the Holy Grail.
The movie doesn't just use this as an excuse to weave together a plot of mystery and myth though: it explains it. It delves into a realm somewhere between fact and fiction, teaching me things I didn't know but am sure are factual - like the background behind the superstitious-sounding Friday 13th, and explores theories I'm not always sure are just theories. It intrigues and convinces. I'm teetering somewhere on the border between fantasy and faith... and it's fantastic.
It does this in a way I can't imagine would offend either Agonistic or Christian, too. I wish more religious movies were like this. Questioning. Teaching. Weaving a story into the very fabric of the religious world, and with it almost inviting me inside. The persons portrayed, the scenery, setting, the puzzle and plot... it all makes for a masterful thriller as well, with characters portrayed by such talents as Ian McKellen and Jean Reno.
At times it's morbid and dark; at times dreamy and inspiring, awash with long lost bits and pieces of our fascinating human heritage. There are believers and fanatics (props to Paul Bettany on a role well-done) as well as non-believers and... victims of circumstance. The intrigue is all but basic.
I didn't realize Inferno was the third part to the 'Robert Langdon' trilogy when I watched it, but suspicions brought me back to the beginning... and I'm about to watch the middle one next.
The build-up is masterful so far - in both of these. Intense and interesting, with each one exploring relics of the ancients and bringing them into our modern day world. Anagrams seem to be a reoccurring method of communication, and it is a bit dark sometimes (in regard to the filming), but other than that it was perfect.
It could be a whole genre of its own, this series. I love the style, and hope to read the books as well this summer. I know they're there already, so far I just never had a compelling reason to take them off their bookshelf. I do now.
rated 4/5: fo shizzle
