Creation

Director:Jon Amiel
Cast: Paul Bettany, Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones, Martha West and Jennifer Connelly
Releasing in cinemas: 15 July 2010
Rated: PG

It’s hard at this distance to imagine Charles Darwin, the father of what we now call evolution, as anything other that wizened but rather mysterious figure peering out from behind an extravagant grey beard in those famous images from the 19th century. Still, as with any historical figure, he was once a young man who lived a life that was, in some ways, quite ordinary and in others, quite extraordinary.

Creation is the story of Darwin’s struggle to publish his seminal On the Origin of Species; the book that laid the groundwork for much of what we understand today about biology and the environment. In essence, it’s a story about strength of conviction; as Darwin, played superbly by Paul Bettany, wrestles with a myriad of conflicting influences - both for and against his radical theory of natural selection.

High on that list is his deeply religious wife - and somewhat ironically, first cousin - Emma (played by Bettany’s real-life wife Jennifer Connelly), who fears Darwin’s theories are both dangerous and heretical. She has an allay in the strict local minister, Rev. Innes (Jeremy Northam) who delights in banging on about pre-destination and God’s grand plan. On the other, are fellow members of the scientific community, notably the irascible and fervent Thomas Huxley (Toby Jones). Meanwhile, Darwin is struggling with some internal demons; including a persistent illness and a terrible tragedy.

Darwin’s theory has been lauded as the single greatest idea in the history of thought (quite a claim); but this film falls rather short of that lofty standard. Written by John Collee (who penned the screenplay for Master & Commander) from Randal Keynes’ biography of Darwin, the script employs fractured timelines that make things rather muddled; especially as the division between the film’s “past” and its “present” isn’t made particularly clear.

The other somewhat disappointing aspect of the script is that, at least on one (perhaps simplistic) view of things, with all the material available to Collee, his story comes down in the end to a case of writer’s block. Now it’s a truism that if you’re making a film about a writer, you need to have something more than just the writing, because since writing is an intrinsically internal process, it’s intensely boring for an audience. Charlie Kaufmann managed to transcend that problem in Adaptation, but I’m not convinced Collee has with this film. Mind you, to give credit where it’s due, this could be the first film in which “Chekhov’s gun” is an orang-utan.

Jon Amiel’s direction is assured if a little staid. Certainly, this is no more “stuffy” than any number of other historical dramas, but by the same token, doesn’t really provoke much excitement. He should get full marks however for making the film as authentic as possible, including using Darwin’s actual home in Kent as one of the locations for the film.

He also coaxes fantastic performances from his cast, particularly Paul Bettany, as mentioned above. Jennifer Connelly is also excellent as Emma, giving her a steely edge that contrasts nicely with Bettany’s warmth in his role. Jeremy Northam is fine as usual in the role of the preacher, while Toby Jones is also great as his the reverend’s polar opposite, Huxley. Special mention should also be made of young Martha West, who goes above and beyond the call as Darwin’s daughter Annie.

Although it’s well-made, great to look at, and features excellent performances, Creation ultimately fails to excite. While this is an interesting film, it doesn’t deliver the emotional impact I’d been hoping for.

David Edwards