I finally dragged myself to the multiplex this weekend to see the Da Vinci Code. After seeing the film, I left the theater fairly upset. Don’t get me wrong – I liked the film plenty. In fact, I thought that director Ron Howard had done a terrific job of translating the novel into a cinematic thrill ride.
What left a bad taste in my mouth (besides the Diet Pepsi) were two things: 1) The film was widely panned by ‘movie critics’ in the media. Mostly they claimed that it was dull, lifeless, boring, even unwatchable. I found the reviews hard to believe – after all, Howard and leading man Tom Hanks have strong track records for making great Hollywood flicks. But given the sheer number of negative reviews, I became convinced they had made a dud. But lo, the movie did not resemble these reviews in the least.
Which brings me to reason 2). I was fooled by those poor reviews. I should have known better: The Da Vinci code tells a culturally subversive tale (though this theme is played down in the movie compared to the book). Many reviewers, rather than attempting to review the film honestly, chose instead to hold their personal interests above the duties of their ‘profession’, giving awful reviews to a movie that, though far from a classic, was a well-made hollywood thriller.
I was angry both at my own naivete and at the culture of cynicism – of which these fake reviews are only a symptom – that now rules our nation. Honesty and integrity no longer hold currency. Talking points, interest groups, and steadfastness have replaced honor and respect in the public dialogue. From our political leaders to newpaper columnists, from CEOs to publicists, discourse and debate has shifted from our nation’s great traditions of honest public debate to a broad acceptance of intentional deceit. I’m not talking about false promises in beer commercials. It is people in positions of power and trust who no longer feel a duty to be honest with their constituencies.
War profiteering, at one time, was despised. In modern America, sadly, it sets the tone.
