The cast of Angels & Demons is gearing up for the international press tour for the film, which gets a worldwide release May 15th. The premiere of the film will be held in Rome tonight, but director Ron Howard and the cast (including Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and Israeli-born actress Ayelet Zurer) participated in a photo call and press conference in Rome over the weekend. Obviously, there were a lot of questions from the international press about just how pissed the Vatican is about Angels & Demons.
Ron Howard didn’t pull any punches, basically saying the Vatican pulled strings to make filming in Rome as difficult as possible. What’s weird is that Ron Howard is like the nicest guy in Hollywood, and he has a long history of never making any enemies within the professional community. For him to be so open about his problems with the Vatican is a pretty big deal. Perhaps that’s because this is his second time around with Vatican controversy? With The DaVinci Code, the Church went all out on a media campaign bashing the film, and Ron Howard barely said anything other than “it’s fiction, get over it.” Of course, the strongest language Ron Howard uses this time is “frustrated”:
Director Ron Howard claimed Sunday that the Vatican interfered with efforts to get permits to shoot certain scenes of his “Angels & Demons” religious thriller in Rome — a charge the Vatican said was purely a publicity stunt.
The film, which stars Tom Hanks and is based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, has its world premiere Monday in Rome.
“Angels & Demons” combines an ancient secret brotherhood called the Illuminati, a papal conclave and a high-tech weapon threatening to destroy the Vatican.
At a press conference Sunday, Howard said he hadn’t sought cooperation from the Vatican based on the opposition he encountered filming “The Da Vinci Code,” another Brown novel that angered many Catholic leaders.
But he said the Vatican nevertheless exerted influence regarding his filming permits, and he was told it would not be possible even to shoot scenes in Rome that had churches in the background.
“When you come to film in Rome, the official statement to you is that the Vatican has no influence,” he said. “Everything progressed very smoothly, but unofficially a couple of days before we were to start filming in several of our locations, it was explained to us that through back channels and so forth that the Vatican had exerted some influence.”
“Was I surprised? No. Am I a little frustrated at times? Sure,” he said.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, refused to comment on Howard’s allegations about church interference, saying his charges were purely designed to drum up publicity for the film.
Last summer, Rome’s diocese confirmed it had barred producers from filming inside two churches because the movie didn’t conform to the church’s views.
In addition to Hanks, the film stars Ewan McGregor as the camerlengo, the prelate who takes care of matters dealing with a papal death and runs the Vatican until a new pontiff is elected. Israeli-born actress Ayelet Zurer plays Dr. Vittoria Vetra, a scientist who helps Langdon crack the codes to save the cardinals.
Reaction from church leaders to “Angels & Demons” has been more muted, though one Italian bishop, Monsignor Antonio Rosario Mennonna, said Saturday the film was “highly denigrating, defamatory and offensive” to the Catholic Church, the ANSA news agency reported.
At the press conference, Hanks drew laughs when was asked what the toughest stunt was during filming. His answer? Simply running.
“There is not a regular cobblestone, there is not a straight step, there is not an easy way to cross any street in all of the Eternal City,” he said. “Essentially death traps and twisted ankles await you any time you try to go out for a slow stroll. How we did not come out with shin splints and ace bandages around our limbs I will never ever know.”
“It must have been divine intervention,” he said.
From The Associated Press Hosted by Google
It makes some sort of sense that the Vatican would be able to pull rank within Rome. Even though Vatican City is its own little fiefdom within Rome, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and there are many Vatican-controlled historic sites within Rome.
I actually have my doubts about Angels & Demons. Will it be as big of a hit as The DaVinci Code? Probably not. That’s why the Vatican is being so much more subdued and passive-aggressive in its attacks – they probably think the film is going bomb anyway. Dan Brown’s not a particularly great writer, and Angels & Demons wasn’t the best, most cohesive book. Still, the film has Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor, so you know it’s going to make some money!
Here’s the cast of “Angels and Demons” at the photo call in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome yesterday. Images thanks to Fame Pictures .
I am with the Vatican on this one
PUBLICITY STUNT
really Ron Howard?? you are surprised they didnt bend over backwards for your hollywood ass?
Ewan, you’re hot. Phew.
The Vatican is a separate country from Italy (Rome) and Rome cannot and does not tell the Vatican what they can and cannot do. Another item, the Vatican is openly angry for Howard’s negative attitude toward Catholicism and his open expression against it. He is acting like a spoiled, rich kid from Hollywood who expects the Vatican to jump because of his own liberal views thus trying to impose them on everyone. He is a “guest” in Italy. Not a dictator. His reputation may get him whatever he wants here but obviously not in Italy. I am so proud of my Italian heritage and a Vatican that does not jump when Hollywood calls.
Ron Howard was in that new Jamie Foxx Video wasn’t he? He looked so out of place XD
He said he wasn’t surprised Kiki. The Vatican should keep its nose out of his business.
I was born and raised a catholic and as I have gotten older I just realized how much the religion disgusts me. They can molest little children all they want and the vatican will cover it up but a man makes a movie and they deem that “highly denigrating, defamatory and offensive”? PLEASE!!! Spare me. The Church is just a bunch of bullsh*t.
NJMDPS: You are just too simple minded of a person if you really are proud for what the church and Italy has done.
kiki:really kiki? you think the church didn’t want in on some of this publicity? You’re just stupid, really.
oh please… publicity works in both the churchs favor and his.. till Mel Gibson makes another religious movie. Now Ron when are you going to make the Arrested Developement movie?
If you used me as a character in a story, fictitious or not, in a way that offended me, I sure as hell wouldn’t let you come film in my house.
Hey Pop it up everyone and all religions have made mistakes. You must be so much Holier than all of us since you like to name call so much. You obviously do not understand the faith at all. Get over yourself you sound hateful and uneducated.
As far as the church goes I understand why they feel protective. Although I thought Angels and Demons was good and I will watch the movie, but I understand that it is fiction. Books and movies like these can be harmful to the faith for those that do not know where they stand in their religious life because many people can not differentiate between fact and fiction.
As for Ron Howard, all he said is that it was frustrating which I am sure it was, right or wrong.
I never said that no other religions made mistakes. I was just pointing out the fact that in all actuality, the roman catholic church can no longer respectfully have any real say in what is and is not “offensive.” What they did is more offensive than any piece of art ever could be. Also, If a movie or book that is fiction can change or misguide a persons faith, I would not trust in their faith.
How strong can your faith and religion be if it’s so easily offended and “weakened” by a movie and a book? I mean, geez.
I am actually a very spiritual person. I just cannot put my faith into these religions that preach what they want to preach, not what God intended. When you read the bible the way it was meant to be read, you have a great guiding force in your life. When you use it in the way these religions do, you will be miserable and full of lies and you are pretty much taught to hate yourself and your natural feelings. All of the Christian religions have been basterdized by greedy, hate-filled leaders. It’s disgusting what is done in the name of God.
The whole church did not do it. People within the church have done some bad things but it is not condoned by the church now. I cannot say what has or has not happened in the past but hey do you hate the entire institution of marriage because some husbands/wives have cheated? Or parenthood because there have been some really crappy parents out there? What about schools since there have been so many teachers that have slept with their students (and I am sure there have been plenty of cover ups)? Don’t hate on the chruch cause of past mistakes. There are a lot of good clergy. I relate it to hating the muslim religion because of Al Qaida, or because of shiites or sunnis. You can be closed minded if you want (and you probably will) but do not pretend to know what God intends because you know as little or as much as the next person.
Right on #3,#8 and #13
Ron howard is a donk. Total idiot.
Do you think God intended war in his name? Do you think God intended people to hate others in his name? The entire Catholic church made it ok for a priest to molest a child when the leader of the chruch did NOTHING to stop them from hurting children or even from being in the priesthood after it being proven that they did infact molest children. Your comparisons are childish and really make no sense. The only one that made any sense was when you mentioned Muslims and Al Qaida. The leaders of the Muslim religion completely denounce Al Qaida so the point you were trying to make still cannot be reached with your comparisons. Also, it is not past mistakes. It is still going on now and they are still covering it up. Don’t play dumb just to prove your point.
Ok Pop! You got me. The Catholic church is an evil aweful institution that does no good. This must be why is is the single largest denomination in the entire world with the largest not for profit organizations doing charity. I just finished going through RCIA and you are right, they told us all to molest children and that they would cover it up in the name of Satan! Read your Bible. Matthew 10:34,
” “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”
The Catholic church does not advocate hate for anything or one so you are misguided once again. My comparisons are quite logical, so get over yourself, it relates large institutions to other large institutions. And the Pope has never said molestation is okay so please prove he has! Please don’t play uneducated to prove your point! And if you are uneducated than do some research.
Pop I feel bad for you. Without a change of heart you will never know what it feels like to worship with your community. I was in a different place over a year ago and the Catholic church has since come into my life and made it worth living again. It has strengthened my marriage my morals and my values and I will forever be grateful for what it has done. There is nothing that has gone on in my church in my community that I am ashamed of. They feed the hungry and cloth those incapable of doing so themselves. You do not have to like the church but it will always be there if you need it, and really who else can you count on like that? When someone like yourself starts out conversations like these with name calling such as stupid and simple minded then I know they are coming from a very misguided and angry person. If you were ever harmed by those that belong to the church then that person was very wrong and you could probably have received an apology from the Pope with others and/or a settlement as well. But again quit associated the few wicked with the larger body, because it is as I said like condemning education as a whole because of teachers who have molested their students.
hey pop it up, shove it up
Wow annie, you really are so very clever. Who else could have possibly thought of that?
ron howard has never been one to use publicity like this so those of you who think he is lying are idiots and those who are offended by this movie are even bigger idiots. IT IS A MOVIE, IT IS NOT REAL.
Actually, Angels and Demons is pro-church. It is the antithesis of the DiVinci Code. The crux of the book is that we are too technologically wired, and that we need to remember what our roots are, and what spirituality means. There are some HORRIFIC deaths of church cardinals, but it is not in glorification, but rather in condemnation of how far we have drifted from human decency.
Being offended by fiction is silly. Not only is it fiction, but it’s bad fiction.
To the ongoing religion war going on here: If you did not have good morals or values before you decided to believe in a sky-dude and follow thousands of years old tenets of said sky-dude, you have more problems than you think you do.
If I was making a movie whose entire point was “Ron Howard is an idiot” I don’t think Mr. Howard would be helpful and let me film at his house. What did he expect from the Vatican?
When some people have had bad experiences within a religion, they tend to react by violently condemning the whole religion (or all religions).
Pop it up, while I disagree with you, I feel a lot of sympathy because it sounds like you were very hurt or disillusioned in the past.
Nevertheless, an insitiution like the Catholic Church is like the government of a country. The people change, and while you might say “The U.S. condoned slavery” it doesn’t mean that today, right now, the U.S. gov condones slavery or that you, as a citizen (and this is purely for the sake of argument that I am assuming you are an American), would ever look back and think “Yeah, I’m real proud that my country supported slavery.”
On the other hand, the fact that the U.S. has done things that, as a country, it can be ashamed of–or even that you personally think is shameful–you are not willing to move away and condemn the whole country and everything it stands for as evil and wrong.
Things change and the “leaders” change with it.
Wars are fought without any religious context whatsoever.
Sometimes you have to look past all the individual acts of bad faith, and get back to basics–it all started to worship Christ, and that is still a worthy goal (even if it is not your own). There are lots of good people for whom that goal is still the most important thing.
actually, I AM surprised no one else has, you might want to you it to something else, a person could have alot of fun with a name like that
You know what? I am happy that you found something that makes you feel better. I however, cannot condone or be part of a religion that has commited so many sins in the name of God. If you can look past that than I truly am happy for you and I hope it gives you everything you are looking for in life. I, myself happen to find it outside of the catholic church.
Honestly thought, I still don’t think that you understand that the points you were making really were silly and uncomparable. You only care that I see your view, you are not willing to even look at the other side. I though, have been on both sides of this. When I was a Catholic, I was very much into the church. I taught religion class, bible school and I sang in the choir. I worked very closely with many priests, nuns and other religious officials and workers. I was privy to many convesations that I probably should not have been. Than, I knew MORE than a handfull of people that got molested. Not just at my church but at many, many (but still only catholic) churches. Never did the Pope or anyone in the church condemned them and that is DISGUSTING. So, yes, I feel that I can be angry at the church forever until they atleast admit to what happened and apoligize, which they have yet to do and will never do. No one that I know wants money from the church, they just want to be aknowlowdged. Also, I WAS taught to hate Gay and Divorced people as a Cathloic. I (and my parish) was told that Gay and divorced people are sinners and should not be allowed in the church nor shoud we participate in activities with them. How is that not teaching hate? The Cathloic church tries to take control over everything that they can for power and nothing else. I wish you could see that. I am not saying a person should not be religious or spiritual but because of my work within the cathloic church I have seen what really goes on and I, personally do not like it at all nor is it aceptable behavior for a group claiming to help others.
Pop it up – I will not argue with you about your experiences, although you must admit that you are generalizing certain things to the whole Church.
The Pope has condemned this. He condemned it before he was Pope.
We’re all sinners – a church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. We’re all sinners, and I am sorry that you were taught to hate gays and lesbians. That is not a Catholic teaching, nor even a generic Christian teaching.
As for the film, Howard was upset some time back because the Vatican denied him the right to film on its grounds.
While it, like the DaVinci Code, is fiction, it purports to include a lot of truth which simply isn’t. I know people who believe some of these “facts”. C’mon… how many people believe that the Opus Dei has monks? They are a lay organization with some affiliated priests.
Pop it up–once again, I must say I’m sorry your experiences were so painful and disillusioning to you.
However, some of your facts are wrong. Many, many leaders (priests, bishops, cardinals AND the present Pope) have all publicly acknowledged and apologized for the terrible acts committed, not only on behalf of those who committed them, but those who turned a blind eye and put the dignity of the Church above the welfare of innocent children.
Many changes have been made in the Church (particularly in North America) to try to make sure such things are never allowed to happen again (changes to how priests are selected and taught, police checks for anyone working with children, programs to educate, etc.)
Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen? No, because people are people and you will always have those who, no matter what their espoused vocation, will use, manipulate or hurt others.
That is as true in the Church as it is in every other area of society.
The Church you belonged to is completely different from anything I’ve experienced in my Church. I have never heard a single bad thing about gays and in fact there is a special gathering for divorced perishoners every few months so they can get together and talk about their experiences. No label of “sinner”.
I’m telling you this not because I want you to say “Oh, I was wrong, sorry”, or to become Catholic again or as a refusal to believe what YOU have experienced–just to point out that MY experiences are just as real and just as true an expression of the Church as yours. Maybe it would help you to know that outside the parish/Church you belonged to, there IS a wealth of good Catholics who want to be good Christians (compassionate, nonjudgmental, charitable and humble enough to acknowledge that the Church is not, as Gracie says, a museum for saints).
I wish you all the happiness in the world and if you have found peace and healing outside the Church then obviously you have done what is right for you.
I know that I am generalizing all of the churches but I truthfully think it is because I have grownup on Long Island. On Long Island almost every cathloic church is THAT type of Cathloic church. They are not welcoming in any way and still refuse to apologize for past transgressions that have proved to be true and still actively try to hurt other people. After all of my issues with my church, I went to a born again service with my black friend that happened to be across the street from my Grandparents Catholic church. THAT is what I call a mass. I may not practice that religion but I do appreciate the way that they practice their faith. It was FUN and HAPPY and Celebratory and I couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on. I wish all masses were like that one. I do understand where you are all coming from. I just have such a bad taste in my mouth that doesn’t seem to want to leave no matter how many times I brush my teeth? You know?
…”You only care that I see your view, you are not willing to even look at the other side”…
Pot calling the kettle there Pop. You called one commenter stupid and another simple minded because they disagree with your view.
I am a recovering Catholic myself, parochial school, mass 6 days a week. To this day I cannot light incense in my house without feeling sick to my stomach.
I find some of the CC views hypocritical, but I will not begrudge anyone the right to their faith, unless they are using it as justification to ram planes into buildings and kill innocent people.
Who are you to say what kind of mass is “fun”?
I actually find solace in the solemnity and consistency of the Catholic mass.
I don’t agree with many of their views, but just the utter essence of it makes me peaceful.
I should note that while it’s already evident you’re pretty ignorant, calling someone “your black friend” and implying that you went to a “black church” with him that was “more fun” does NOT help your cause.
Well I said black friend because I was the ONLY white person there. It helped get the feel for the type of church. A Baptist church that black people go to and one that has white people are very different enviornments. The masses are completely different. (Don’t try to play me off as racist or ignorant because of that because it is true) I meant no harm by what I said. I was just putting my thoughts out there. I was not trying to argue in that statement at all. I said that I understood where everyone was coming from and was trying to talk through why I think I acted in the way I did. Why are you trying to start a new argument?
Also, your statement “Who are you to say what kind of mass is “fun”?”
I can say what type of mass is fun to me. That is just ridiculous that you have a problem with me saying I had fun at mass. I wished all masses were like that because it is one that I really enjoyed. I don’t know why you are trying to start drama where there is absolutly none.
Catholicism is responsible for a huge amount of poverty in the world, so it’s only right that they help the poor. Telling their faithful that God hates birth control is, in the age of AIDS, a death sentence, when it’s not forcing you to have children you can’t provide for. Telling women they cannot be priests is also pretty hateful. And of course, telling people that God hates gay people is just mean. In that same book of the bible, you can’t wear linen and wool at the same time, or you go to hell.
I wish all churches worth over a million dollars would be taxed. That way people can get some help for all the damage that they do.
I saw some Angels and Demons of my own in Rome today.
No words for that blasphemy!
How peaceful would the world be without all these religions?