Rating: PG
Running Time: 108 minutes
Release Date: 15 July 2010
http://wwwcreationthemovie.com
Creation tells the semi biographical story of famous naturalist Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany) and his acclaimed theories of evolution. This film chooses to hone in on his trials and tribulations on the way to publishing his first book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859. John Collee wrote the script based on Randal Keynes’ biography “Annie’s Box: Charles Darwin, His Daughter and Human Evolution”. Randal Keynes is actually Darwin’s great great grandson. The story provides an insight into the man himself rather than purely his work history and list of accomplishments and adventures. It revolves around his family life in Kent with his wife and first cousin Emma (Jennifer Connelly) and his four children, in particular his eldest, ten year old Annie (Martha West). Raised a Christian, and wed to his religious wife his faith is not only tested with his theories of evolution, at odds with the church’s teachings at this time and quite revolutionary, but also when faced with a personal crisis. It becomes a battle of science versus religion as Darwin is not sure that he should actually publish his manuscript for fear that he may be killing God but he is encouraged by his contemporary Thomas Henry Huxley (Toby Jones) that he must proceed.
The film manages to capture the era by providing the contrast of how advanced his theories were at the time compared with medical science and the mysteries of the human body where bloodletting and quackery ruled the day. Yet once we zoom towards modern day medicine has made such huge advances in comparison. Also done cleverly were the scenes of Darwin relating his real life adventures in storytelling moments with his children which gave the audience a sense of his achievements without having to be explicit about them. This adds richness to the story and some moments of whimsical delight as a good change of tone. It is reminiscent of “Beautiful Mind” tortured but brilliant mind, altered states of reality, talking to imaginary people, consumed by their theories but still supported by their long suffering wives its all there, just interchange Nash for Darwin. To top it off it has two of the stars in a “Beautiful Mind” in Bettany and Connelly (married in real life) which makes it disturbingly similar that you wonder how contrived and how much poetic license was taken with this portrayal, and pushing the right emotional buttons. Suspicion aside it was still well directed by Jon Amiel and well acted with the husband and wife chemistry in real life easily translated onto the screen and does provide an interesting dynamic to Darwin. Bettany is magnificant and Connelly just shines in her performance. However I would have preferred that there was a touch more on his adventures and discoveries rather than rely purely on the emotional elements so I could learn more about him as well as being entertained and engaged. It certainly leaves the door open for another version of the Darwin story in the near future.
3.5/5 stars
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