Inferno - Movie Review. Not As Hot As Hell. 🔥

Genre :- Crime / Mystery

Runtime :- 2 hrs 2 mins

Cast :- Tom Hanks, Irrfan Khan, Felicity Jones, Omar Sy, Ben Foster, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ana Ularu, Ben Foster.

Director :- Ron Howard.

⏩ Plot :- After waking up in the hospital, Robert Langdon - a symbology professor (who is also an art historian and a cryptologist) is tormented by visions which are actually a portrayal of Dante's model of hell. Later, Langdon is being chased by several people and that's when our pretty little Dr. Brooks comes to his rescue. They are on a mission to save half of the world from dying because of a virus that has been planted by a psychopathic tyrant Zobrist.

⏩ Direction :- The third film in Ron Howard's Robert Langdon franchise focuses on the mysteries that lead to the end of the mankind and one and only one man, Professor Robert Langdon, can save the world with his expertise and wisdom that's equivalent to an overflowing stream.
And as far as the direction is concerned, you aren't going to be disappointed at all. Howard's work behind the camera is top notch. It's the screenplay that puts a tiny damper on it. David Koepp's screenplay is by the numbers adaptation of the book with outworn dialogues and poor characterisation. Dan Brown's a writer who has an appealing way of saying stories, although his writing is brutish, sometimes. And the movie would've been magical had their been some better writing on the desk.
You won't find it bad or bland, but yes, it could've been better.

⏩Editing and Cinematography :-

Full points to Dan Hanley and Tom Elkinson on editing as it's fast-paced, crisp and meticulous at the same time. Not a single minute for you to yawn at, in this 122 minutes thriller. The Cinematography lits up your mood with golden hour lighting on warm, old stonework and cobbled streets to eclectic locations from the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Istanbul, Venice and so on. Good job, Salvatore Tantino.

⏩Music :-

Music by Hans Zimmer. Need we say more? It's like an epic volcanic eruption that will char everything around it. With a lot of chasing and running in this film, Zimmer throws all his jacks behind the characters
- from the tick-tock, haunting violin, soothing piano to electronic drums which are just enough to give you goosebumps. The music of 'Inferno' is like the Batman Vs Superman sound on crack. And you're going to love it!

⏩The Highs -

▶The performance by Hanks and Irrfan is outstanding. While Hanks lends in all the emotions, Irrfan tickles your funny bones.
And this, maintains the balances of the film.

▶ For a person who haven't read the book or watched the predecessors, this would be an edge of the seat thriller.

▶The first 70 minutes is interesting wherein the makers plant the seeds of suspicion in your mind vis a vis any character - who could be a sell-out, a Zobrist sympathizer or a spy.

▶ The special effects in certain scenes are amazing. The flood of blood out exploding out of shattered towers may even beat the bloody elevator shot in 'The Shining' and 'Evil Dead.'

▶ While critics may love to sneer at Inferno's clichéd plot of "Saving the mankind" and Bourne style chasing and riddle-solving action gimmicks, the truth is - It actually works.
Tell me, when the main active ingredient of a dish is Tom Hanks; Felicity Jones and Irrfan Khan are the seasoning and Hans Zimmer is the delicious gravy – Wouldn't you have it? Definitely.

▶ The difference between the book and the film is interesting. Perhaps, the makers aren't afraid of taking the risk with plenty of book-readers in the wind. Also, you might want to know about Dante as the film ends and you head for home.

⏩The Lows -

▶ The irrelevant and conceited speech by Ben Foster (Zobrist) at the very beginning. Why would they go for this in the first place beats you, because all he does is parrot out the most obvious facts about population growth before leaving the stage.

▶ Too many knots and twists most of which can be foreseen. Typical angle of a good guy turning bad and vice versa.

▶ Character development is poor. The only character whose story is crystal clear is Dr. Sienna Brooks. Not even our protagonist, Professor. *Sighs*

▶ The climax is unfortunately cold and unattractive. As the movie proceeds your expectation for the climax increases only to get chewed upon at the end.

⏩Performances :-

▶Tom Hanks is in the soul of the character ab initio and he doesnt strike one bad cord. He displays all the vulnerability and expressions that Langdon's character demands.

▶ Felicity Jones as Dr. Sienna Brooks is fine. She has been given a great character amd screenplay but her lack of expression is a put off.

▶ Irrfan Khan, does not disappoint as Harry 'Provost' Sims, the mysterious, enigmatic head of a covert security agency. Despite occasionally losing control of his diction, Khan manages to hold his own and delivers the movie's funniest and most honest scene, in which he murders a character and deadpans, "Sorry for the messy job."

▶Sidse Babett Knudsen as Elizabeth, the head of W.H.O and one of Langdon's flings is excellent.

▶ Omar Sy as Agent Bouchard is deadly and perfect for the role.

⏩ Watch or Not ? Uhhmm... maybe.

⏩ Verdict :- This adaptation of 'Inferno' is an interesting blend of history, art, science, eureka moments and alarmist prophecies with enough twists and turns to keep a viewer sufficiently engaged BUT it's not devoid of potholes.

Ratings - 3/5

🙏 Prizmi Tripathi 🙏