And now for some completely useless information...

OK. I admit that I was one of the millions of people sitting on a beach chair last summer reading the Da Vinci Code. I felt like such a conformist because that book was literally everywhere on the beach last summer. But, hey, I'm no snob. I'll read or watch any book or movie, good or bad on vacation. After I got over the title -- because he should be referred to as "Leonardo", not "Da Vinci" for Christ's sake and thus the book should have been called the "Leonardo Code" (maybe I am a bit of a snob) -- I actually enjoyed the book a lot. It really was an entertaining thriller with some interesting historical shtuff that I never cared to know about, but found utterly fascinating.

So since I was hooked this summer, the title of this Blogcritics entry piqued my curiousity. Drew Feinberg's wife Jen wrote a hilarious response to a Toronto Star article, "Da Vinci Code: Don't Blow It!", which I don't have access to. Jen's article, "How to cast The Da Vinci Code without pissing me off.", gives the Da Vinci Code reader's opinions of who should and should definitely not be cast in the roles for the movie whis is to be directed by Ron Howard. The commentary in the blog entry and the comments is pretty funny. I agree with a lot of her choices. Here's mine.

The idea of doing armchair casting for this movie is sort of fun. We did something like this at my office once, trying to cast all the people who would play us in "IIS (that's the name of my org), The Movie". For the Da Vinci Code, I agree with the commentor that says they shouldn't cast any icons with character baggage, with the exception of perhaps the Jaques Sauniere character. When I read the book, I didn't have particular people in mind to play movie roles, but I did have images in mind. And here's who seems to fit.

Robert Langdon: Hard role to fit. I like Russell Crowe, but I have a really hard time seeing him in this role. He could do it, no doubt, but I want someone a bit less macho. I can't say who the image is in my mind, but it's someone with less star power. Someone more anonymous, who's a bit average looking, tweedy yet handsome. I don't know who that is, but it's not the Toms, George Clooney or anyone like that.

Sophie Neveu: I think Juliette Binoche might have been great for this role a few years ago. Rachel Weisz fits the bill for me now. She's got the perfect look and is a solid actress. The role here is strong, very smart and ultra sophisticated (given her character's upbringing). I don't buy many of the other suggestions people have made. Kate Winslet is perhaps my favorite actress in her age group, but I don't think she's right. For some reason, I see a lot of temperance in this role and I see Kate as a passion player. Natasha McElhone is interesting but she's too damned glamorous to be a cop, even if she's supposed to be some smart code cracker. Come to think of it, that sophistication might work for her. Of utmost importance is that the chemistry between Langdon and Neveu is there. I can't really see Crowe opposite Weisz.

Note: Someone suggested Emamanuelle Bért in the comments and I have to agree that she may be be perfect as Sophie. With brown hair, rather than blonde. I also just saw The World Is Not Enough with Sophie Marceau after reading so many people recommending her and now agree that she's a contender. She's incredible in that movie, but I wonder if she's a tiny bit mature/sophisticated for the part. I'm tending to see Sophie as someone who is on the younger side, but old enough to have been through graduate school and PhD programs. Someone in her late 30s. I like the idea of Bért more and more as I compare her to the others.

Captain Bezu Fache: Jean Reno does seem perfect, Tchéky Karyo is also a compelling choice (you have to have seen La Femme Nikita to appreciate him in the role.)

Silas: I agree with William Fichter. I can't buy Paul Bettany as this villian, though he's physically right. Theres a certain kind of pathos that you see in an actors eye's that says they can play that role. Fichter has it.

Sir Leigh Teabing: Agree with Jim Broadbent. He's perfect. He looks the part and can physically portray the frail, intellectual aristocrat.

Jacques Sauniere: Yes, Sir Anthony Hopkins is perfect with or without a French accent.

Oh, and drew's blog-o-rama is awesome. It's now my favorite movie blog.

UPDATE: The point is moot now. Feels ridiculous rehashing the details of a fluffy, unimportant Hollywood flick, but here goes.

I wasn't so cracked up about Tom Hanks' hairdo as everyone else seemed to be. At least we guessed Jean Reno correctly. Everyone else was right about Paul Bettany being in it, but I was right about him feeling not creepy enough. Ian McKellen was brilliant as Teabing. I like Audrey Tatou, so she could do no harm.

Everything else about the movie was underwhelming as expected. The CGI was totally unnecessary. The flashing symbol effects used on Beautiful Mind were absolutely distracting and useless in the cryptography parts in the Louvre. Stupid. Seriously, just let the acting tell the story. This was supposed to feel like an edge of your seat thriller. No real suspense here. Any Grisham I've seen flick beat out this one by a mile.