Da Vinci director 'frustrated' at critics

"Frustrating" was how director Ron Howard described the overwhelmingly negative reviews of his eagerly awaited movie The Da Vinci Code, but he believed the news was not all bad.

Critics and movie goers often disagreed, Howard said in an interview today, and some people at preview screenings had found the film starring Tom Hanks more rewarding on the second viewing than on the first.

"I don't really read them (reviews) at the time that we're coming out, because it's too touchy a subject for me," Howard, 52, told Reuters at exclusive hotel on the Mediterranean coast outside Cannes.

"I like to know what's going on, so I get a sentence or two of description."

Months after a film's release, Howard said he collected reviews to see what the consensus among critics was.

The reaction immediately after the first press screening at the Cannes film festival on Tuesday was mainly negative, with trade publication Variety setting the tone by calling the $125 million picture "stodgy" and "grim".

Many people in the audience at the screening laughed at the pivotal moment, and the ending was greeted with stony silence.

The New York Post was in the minority with a glowing appraisal, calling the film "crackling" and "irresistible".

The Da Vinci Code has attracted unusual attention thanks to the religious controversy surrounding the Dan Brown bestseller on which it is based.

One of the characters suggests Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had a child by her and that the Church resorted to murder to try to cover up the truth, prompting objections from Christian groups and officials at the Vatican.

The film's performance at the box office is also important this year after the summer's first two blockbusters --Mission: Impossible III and Poseidon-- failed to meet expectations.

Howard said the critical reaction did not necessarily reflect what the public would think.

"There's a disconnect between the audience response and the critics. The critics are running a bit more to the negative and with audiences we've been running much more to the positive."

That has been supported by forecasts from experts in the key United States market for a strong opening weekend from Friday.

They say the film could earn $50 to $80 million in its first three days.

Howard even had a suggestion on how to boost that number.

"This sounds a little'hucksterish', but people really respond to the movie better the second time than they do the first time."

But Howard added: "Of course it's frustrating that some of the critics have been harsh with it and that's disappointing, because I'm the type of person that likes to please everyone.

"I think with this project, that's an impossibility and I've kind of known that all along."

The director of critically acclaimed movies including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind realised he was taking a risk by agreeing to make The Da Vinci Code.

"If you're not willing to take some chances, particularly at this stage of my career, then what are you doing? I know I've been commercially successful, but I'm not really a guy looking for safe, middle-of-the-road success."

- Reuters

http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/directo ... 89562.html

So he's not looking for "safe, middle-of-the-road success."

So what the heck do you call A Beautiful Mind??

Maybe the movie is not that good I dunno but I will say one hurdle it has that the book didn't. Most people will go into the movie, especially most critics, already knowing the core subject that is "revealed" in the story. That pretty much would kill the mystery of it even if it was really well directed and written.

But the movie is " safe, middle of-the-road success " that seems to be one of the problems critics are having with the movie, it's too safe.

Probably a movie he wanted to make (whatever you think of it).

I like the guy.

Didn't most people know what the book was about before reading it? I know I heard it about 10 times.

I didn't, but then I read it over 18 months ago and also I try not to read the back of the book or in the case of a hardback the bookflaps more than I have to, to get a gist of a story. If I already knew the central thesis I doubt I could have ploughed through it. The book is almost like a university lecture, the ideas *are* the story to a great extent.

I'm not saying that is the only problem here of course, the movie might suck for all I know. Just saying that the constant spoiling of it by the media the last year isn't helping.

If I can ramble on a little more, it's 2am after all, what also might be hurting reception is expectations based on the cast. Hanks and Tatou have both played several very charming roles in their past. Hey it's Forest Gump and Amelie, people probably will just wait and expect them to be charming. But if the movie is like the novel that won't be happening, the characters they play bear little resemblance to characters they have played before. So there's bound to be some disappointment there. I was really surprised with the trailers how there was not any of that great Hanks middle American charm, they just didn't use their best asset.

Okay, now I'm really MAD! They made little Opie cry...

By the way, a reminder: its average grade on RT is like 4.7/10

Thats not "overwhelmingly bad". It's not good reviews, its mediocre/weak. Google reviews has it at 3/5 and Metacritic has it at 51. Thats the average grades people will be seeing, not terrible, but hardly great. If every review was 0 stars and D-s calling it septic or whatever, that might be a different matter. But it does not. There are a few impotant critics on its camp and I think overall the reviews the public are reading are not as horrific as they are being made out to be.

archie is right, the cast and the crew involved set Da Vinci up with what people thought were locked solid reviews regardless of the religious and book based backlash. Not so.

I knew the books big spoiler before i read it. which was annoying, but i still thought it was a really good, entertaining read. I hope the film can be the same. Seeing it in an hour, will post back later with thoughts.

Still at it, eh?

4.7/10 is mediocre???

umm .. i'm sorry ... mediocre?

now lets forget that these reviwes mean or reflect nothing ... lets completely dismiss that.

when i walk out of a film and say that man .. that movie was a 4.7/10, i dont mean mediocre. i mean the film was bad.

there are few films in my book that'll go lower. stuff like aeon flux and Cave. below 4 is like the worst of the worst.

On a 10-point scale, the ratings 2, 3, and 4 are hardly ever used...


Hey!

i'm quoting a personal experience. to each his own. when you walk out of kong with a 4/10 score, you're not really thinking in your head "man .. that was mediocre"

I agree with you. Because 2-4 are rarely used - 4.7 is about as low as you can go, unless you're dismissing it as atotal bomb and rating it 1 out of 10...

oh i've gone lower ...

Everyone is talking about these reviews. Someone who normally wouldnt pay much attention, called me yesterday and talked about the panning at Cannes. It may turn into a "I have to check it out to see if it's as bad as they say" sort of situation.

If a story is well-written and executed, then it doesn't matter one whit whether people know the end or not. They want to see the end play out. Exhibit A: LotR. Exhibit B: Every single repeat viewing of any movie.


As for Ron Howard, . If he wants sympathy, he can go hug that Oscar he stole from Peter Jackson.

Perhaps the studio could use that as a marketing strategy:

"Come and see how bad The Da Vinci Code is for yourself!"

I've got to say, I really do feel bad for him. Honestly, I haven't liked any of his movies but APOLLO 13, but he's a good guy, and I expect this flick to be very entertaining

ohhhh...sad Ronnie sad Ronnie.....The movie will still be a good sucess and sad Ronnie will get only a 20-30 mio paycheck.....so bad so bad.......

I wouldn't exactly call "A Beautiful Mind" a middle of the road success considering the Oscars it won.

It's just one movie after all, it's not like the guy hasn't had an accomplished career. Even if it isn't bad, it'll still be a monster box-office wise, and he'll bounce back.

I like how he's being honest though, who wouldn't be frustrated at this point? I think directors should speak out for themselves more when things like this happen.

That's how I ma feeling, I just don;t think it can be that bad, so I am going to find out.

He'll sick Opie Dei on them.