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Creation Stars: Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones, and Martha West Director: Jon Amiel Scriptwriter: John Collee based on Randal Keynes book, “Annie’s Box” Composer: Christopher Young with piano soloist Thomas Nemic and violin soloist Robert Maricet Cinematography: Jess Hall Newmarket Films Rating: PG 13 for themed material Running Length: 109 minutes Paul Bettany (Legion) certainly makes an intense Charles Darwin. He is in a world by himself, a gentleman with property, and religion is having a battle within him. The film takes place after Darwin’s historic voyage aboard the Beagle, and there are flashbacks of this trip and his discoveries and formulation of theory. In fact, there are many flashbacks in this film, and it takes a moment for the audience to orientate themselves as to when and where they are. Religion teaches that the world was created in seven days and that’s it. Fossils and dinosaurs? Spoken of in private. Darwin’s marriage to Emma (Jennifer Connelly who is Bettany’s real life wife) was an unusual one, as she was a firm believer in the church and their Pastor, Reverend Innes (Jeremy Northam.) What to do here? Be true to one’s self and continue with researching a book to be called Origin of the Species or let everything rest. This conflict goes on inside Darwin and causes him physical ailments which may or may not be imaginary. His oldest daughter, Annie (Martha West) is full of questions and a budding scientist, but she, too, has ailments and when she is seriously ill, the medical treatments of the time fall far short. Thus the story continues as we see family outings on the beach, a chill turning into a possible pneumonia, pregnancies, arguments with clergy and a marriage that is held together by habit. Emma has children and cares for them while Charles goes into his study and writes. The faithful man servant (and every landowner had one) can be found boiling pigeon skeletons for study of evolving bone structure. You can bet this building was not near the main house. What adds immensely to the film is Christopher Young's soundtrack, with special artists, and cinematography by Jess Hall. Some of the scenes look like paintings in a gallery and this certainly is mood-evoking. As the story progresses, we see that Darwin’s illness and that of his daughter, has them exhausting regular treatments and eventually going to a spa. Not a good idea. Emma has to stay behind with the rest of the children and this causes a schism in their marriage. Also, Alfred Russell Wallace has published a small, 20-page booklet with the same theory as Darwin, an origin of the species. What to do? Quit? This is what some want him to do, but as time goes by, and with the help of a new doctor whose treatment borders on psychoanalysis, Darwin begins to write again and does an entire book. Well, we know what happens. The book is a success and thus begins a debate that goes on today. Paul Bettany’s Charles Darwin as a loving family man who puts his work almost on even par as his children. The family goes on outings together, but when it comes to religious teaching, he sort of steps aside and Emma takes over. This flexible wall between them is useful through the years until tragedy strikes. Then, there must be a breach in the wall or all is lost. Jennifer Connelly's Emma is a loving mother, but I wish I could have seen the courting days to see what attraction they had for each other. It takes a strong woman to live with a man whose mind is usually elsewhere, like dissecting animals. There is a poignant moment here when Darwin speaks of the captivity of animals and of Jenny, a small orangutan who was removed from her native habitat and taken to a sterile London zoo, dressed in children’s clothing. Zoo patrons may think twice about their local zoos. The story of Creation deals not so much with creation as with relationships, between husband and wife and father and daughter. Charles and Emma created family. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner 
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