KFOG REVIEW: “INFERNO”

This week brings one review and one review alone, “Inferno.”

I will start by saying I love the book “The Da Vinci Code” when it first came out. I was obsessed with puzzles and mysteries. Did the whole running around Westminster Abby thing reliving where the plot pointed to etc.

So when I found out they were making it into a movie starring Tom Hanks I was on board.

Then the film came out and it was all downhill from there.

I do not understand why they continue to make these Robert Langdon films. Is it a contractual obligation? It seems like Tom Hanks and Ron Howard have other things they can be doing with their time. The films dont make extraordianry amounts of money and they don’t receive critical acclaim…. So why?!

This film (which I hope is the third and final in this trilogy) starts off with Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) losing his memory and getting sucked into a mystery somehow only he can solve……. Ben Foster plays a crazy billionaire who thinks the world is over-populated an wants to release the… wait for it… “Inferno” virus.

Side note: the books describe the character of Professor Robert Langdon as looking like “Harrison Ford in Harris tweed.”

So again don’t get me wrong I really like Tom Hanks… but the role does not require someone of his caliber, and if the character is supposed to be like Harrison Ford….. well here’s a visual, you decide for yourself. Then ask yourself considering they’re willing to recast actors at the drop of a hat in other franchises, how the heck did they convince Hollywood execs to greenlight 3 of these things with Hanks in the role?

​Felicity Jones plays Sienna Brooks, which makes her our third female “lead” in as many films. Just because the Bond films do it doesn’t mean every male action adventure driven film needs to cycle through female characters like they go rotten if you cast them twice. Before this film I thought she could do no wrong. Her performance in “A Monster Calls” which comes out this winter is heartbreaking, and if she doesn’t make you feel things as Jane Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” you’re soulless. That being said this film shook my faith in her a bit, and has me a little concerned for “Rogue One,” as Star Wars films are amazing but aren’t always known for the strength of their dialogue.

There’s also a strange subplot with Omar Sy, Sidse Babette Knudsen (“Westworld”), and Irrfan Khan. I’m pretty sure they’re all there as diversity hires, in spite of being excellent actors in their own rights, just not in this.

I won’t go into more details than any of that because heaven forbid I spoil this film?
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I feel like I would rather go through a few of Dante’s circles of hell before watching this film again.

I expected more of all the people involved in this film. Save your time and money.

Instead I invite you to watch my favorite recent Tom Hanks performance:
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