Review of Creation (2009) by Ian Y — 17 Oct 2009

Slow moving film, dealing with Darwinâ??s crisis of conscience in the year before he published The Origin of Species. Darwin was haunted by guilt over the death of his eldest daughter, and trying to deal with the consequences of a loss of religious belief as a result of his scientific work.

His wife retained her traditional religious views and their relationship was breaking down as a result. This could have been an interesting film, but fails. Much has been made of the real life relationship between Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly, but on screen there is no spark between them.

Consequently, it is difficult to care at all about either of the main characters, or indeed the outcome of the story (which, of course, we know anyway). The only time the film really livened up was the one brief seen when Thomas Huxley appeared â?? the film would have been improved by setting more of the story in London so that there was a greater sense of the depth of feeling which Darwinâ??s work stirred.