Another recurring theme between the two Dan Brown films that colours the background is the presence of a tireless investigator … one in service to the Church. The first was a member of Opus Dei: Captain Bezu Fache (played by cinema’s Frenchman Jean Reno) in the Da Vinci Code (2006).
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Angels and Demons (2009) went inside the Church for the devout and devoted investigator, a member of the Swiss guard - Commander Richter, played by Stellen Skarsgaard. Both investigators had loyal sidekicks who did their bidding along with a team of fairly good runners.
By contrast, the central protagonists were both zealots running shadow operations of which the Church had no involvement or knowledge until the end.
The culmination of Angel and Demons had the protagonist Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor) recognize his doom and remove himself from harm or prosecution, igniting himself with a candle. The Cardinal in Da Vinci Code was so shrouded in his piety as not the escape its veil even until the end.
Take note also of the changed backdrop between the two films: Da Vinci Code was characterized by a heavy French ambiance unlike Angels an Demons that although centred in Rome, had everyone from everywhere involved — beyond the historical commentary.
- Giving away Dan Brown (economist.com)
- Da Vinci author Dan Brown does it again (bbc.co.uk)
- Is the Bible True or False (ozatheist.wordpress.com)
