Dan Brown. Author. Angels & Demons. by Travis Simpkins

Dan Brown. Angels and Demons. Illuminati. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dan Brown

Novelist

Best-Selling Author of The Da Vinci Code

by Travis Simpkins

Secrets of Angels & Demons: Illuminati

For more info, please visit:

www.danbrown.com

Dan Brown. by Travis Simpkins. Tom Hanks. Illuminati. Angels & Demons

Road to Perdition (2002): Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law

     Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, Road to Perdition (2002) was the highly acclaimed and highly anticipated second film by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty). With limited, sparse dialogue in the script, Mendes was able to convey much of the story through the powerful cinematography of Conrad Hall. Sadly, Road to Perdition was Hall's last film, but he deservedly won a posthumous Academy Award for his brilliant work on it. Starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law and Daniel Craig, the film perfectly recreates depression-era 1931 Chicago, in a respectful nod to the source material. A splendid work all around, Road to Perdition is a masterwork of atmosphere, and in terms of establishing time and place, and is deserving of repeat viewings.

     1931: Michael Sullivan, Sr. (Tom Hanks) has been a trusted enforcer for Irish mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman) for years... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

     Their families are intertwined, with Rooney acting as a father to Sullivan, and as a grandfather figure to Sullivan's two young sons... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Paul Newman

     But John's son, Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig) is a bad seed with a chip on his shoulder... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

     Connor snaps during a routine job with Sullivan, killing the man they were meeting with. Sullivan's eldest son, Michael, Jr., having hidden in the car, witnesses the bloodbath. Afraid young Michael will talk, Connor orders that the entire Sullivan family (wife, children and Sullivan himself) be murdered. Only the two Michaels, Sr. and Jr., father and son survive. Michael Sullivan vows to avenge the deaths of his wife and youngest son... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

     But Connor Rooney has gone into hiding and is being protected by powerful men, including his father... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

     and they have hired an assassin of their own to kill Sullivan, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), a sadistic hitman with a penchant for photographing his victims post-mortem... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Jude Law

     Michael Sullivan must track down and kill those responsible... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

     including John Rooney, the man who has been like a father to him... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

     so that Michael, Jr. can be free to live a safe life...

Road to Perdition. 2002

Cloud Atlas (2012): Connections of History and Future. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry

     Directed by the Wachowkis and Tom Tykwer, based on the novel by David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas (2012) is a time spanning epic. The film has multiple plots set in six different eras, ranging from ancient primitive tribes to the present and future civilizations. In between are 19th and early 20th Century stories, all of which tie together through human connections and themes. Many actors play several parts and the makeup team did a great job in altering their appearances from one story to the next. The ensemble cast does a wonderful job, including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Bae Doo-na, Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant.

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks 

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks and Halle Berry

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Halle Berry

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks 

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks and Halle Berry

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Bae Doo-na

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Halle Berry

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks 

Cloud Atlas. 2012

Cloud Atlas. 2012: Tom Hanks and Halle Berry

Cloud Atlas. 2012

The Da Vinci Code (2006): Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, The Holy Grail and Priory of Sion

     Directed by Ron Howard, based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code (2006) was unavoidably met with controversy and protest. In the story, the murder of a curator at the Louvre triggers a quest that involves seeking the true Holy Grail and exposing the greatest cover-up in history: that Jesus Christ fathered a child with Mary Magdalene and his bloodline continues to the present day. Secret organizations the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei are featured prominently. Filmed at great cultural and historical landmarks throughout France and the United Kingdom, the cinematography is excellent. Sets include the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, Temple Church and Rosslyn Chapel.  As the title suggests, the works of Leonardo da Vinci are highlighted. Symbolism, riddles, Art, puzzles and mystery make for a thrilling two and a half hours. The actors all do a fine job, including Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany and Alfred Molina.

Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Paul Bettany: The Da Vinci Code

Vitruvian Man : The Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks and Jean Reno: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Mona Lisa, Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Madonna of the Rocks, Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

The Mona Lisa, Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Alfred Molina: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ: The Da Vinci Code

Ian McKellan: The Da Vinci Code

Mary Magdalene: The Da Vinci Code

Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Mary Magdalene: The Da Vinci Code

Paul Bettany: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou: The Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Paul Bettany: The Da Vinci Code

Paul Bettany: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

The Louvre: The Da Vinci Code

The Louvre: The Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou: The Da Vinci Code