Ron Howard’s “The Da Vinci Code” invited so many claims, so many disclaimers, that the film, based on Dan Brown’s novel, has launched a cottage industry of experts in need of its own cottage industry of decoders.
“As you know,” began one friendly e-mail, “the ‘Da Vinci Code’ movie opens on Friday, May 19th. ‘The Templar Papers,’ by author and historian Oddar Olsen would be a perfect tie-in.” The author/historian, said the e-mail, would be available for consultation.
He wasn’t alone.
“Working artist, art historian, instructor and tour guide Mark Venaglia is here to decode and explain the world of ‘sacred geometry’ and hidden intrigue present in everything from great works of art to the architecture surrounding us everyday!”
Medium Carrie Carter has, we were told (though not forewarned) been “channelling Mary Magdalene for years.” Carter has been “given guidance from her angels that the time is right to reveal the truth about Jesus and Mary Magdalene … utilizing her extraordinary gifts of clairvoyance and clairaudience and is ready to share the answers that America has been waiting for!”
Whew.
Authors of “Beyond the Da Vinci Code” and “The Da Vinci Hoax” could help with the theologicial conundrums raised by Brown’s book.
If our electronic in boxes were bulging in the weeks leading up to Da Vinci-Day, other film critics across the country must have been receiving the same selfless offers of assistance in making sense of a flick based on a novel more John Grisham than Barbara Tuchman. “Historical conjecture” was how the plaintiff in the copyright trial in England referred to Brown’s novel.
Working a less-lofty angle were the odds-making sites who wanted to make sure we knew what research is saying about opening weekend box-office wagers.
Still, it was this fine print from the opening pages of “The Rough Guide to the
Da Vinci Code” that offered the richest metaphor for the anxieties the movie was provoking.
“The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all the information … however, they can accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience by any traveler as a result of information and advice.”
Loss. Injury. What fine language for a movie that was being treated as a spiritual journey, or profane detour.
Of course, now that we’ve had a gander at the film, all the expertise seems wasted.
Late last night, we received yet another “Da Vinci”-related e-mail. It wasn’t offering us an expert. It pointed us to a website.
At TheNormanRockwellCode.com you will find Alfred Thomas Catalfo’s clever short about a curator found murdered at the museum dedicated to the famous portrayer of American life in Stockbridge, Mass. Who joins the mysterious case? None other than Barney Fife’s son, Langford, professor of symbology at Stockbridge Community College.
