Creation

Paul Bettany plays immortal scientist Charles Darwin in Jon Amiel’s dramatic tour-de-force “Creation.” The film is one of many events marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s book “On the Origin of the Species – By Means of Natural Selection.” The book and the thought process in it would change the thinking of scientists forever. The book would also begin a pitted battle that wages today between those who believe in divine creation as described in the bible and the biological process described by Darwin.


Bettany played the ship’s doctor who played the cello to Russell Crowe’s fiddle in the classic action thriller “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (he was also Tom Edison in “Dogville” and Jarvis in the “Iron Man” films). In “Commander” he was the loyal military physician first but his real love was the wonder of nature. He didn’t have to go far to fit the character of Charles Darwin.

Jennifer Connelly plays Emma Darwin the loyal and steadfast wife of the legendary scientist who is also part of his problem coming to grips with his discovery. Connelly is a stirring performer as anybody knows who saw her Oscar / Golden Globe winning performance in “A Beautiful Mind” (her performances in “House of Sand and Fog” and “Requiem for a dream” were just as mesmerizing).



The film is based on Darwin’s great-great-grandson’s book, “Annie’s Box” about the last years Darwin spent putting his thoughts in writing. This was a time of great stress for the pioneering scientist. He knew full well that his work flew in the face of the church and the vast majority of society. Nobody but the most learned scientists would even comprehend what was in it during the lifetime of Charles Darwin. Speaking of lifetimes, people who said anything as remotely as pointed and powerful as what was in the book had been burned at the stake less than a century earlier.