Darwin (Paul Bettany)

Creation is the new film from director Jon Amiel and follows the story of Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who came up with the theories of evolution and natural selection. It opens with the audience being told Darwin"s theory is credited as being `the biggest single idea in the history of thought". From there, we are introduced to Darwin (Paul Bettany) as he tells his children their favourite bedtime story about his adventures travelling the world as a geologist. Fast forward a few years and the Darwin we see now is somewhat of a recluse, tormented by the pressure to publish his findings and trying to salvage his relationship with his deeply religious wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly) after the death of their 10-year-old daughter Annie (Martha West). A sickly and tormented individual, some of his key findings and discoveries about life are shown in anecdotal flashbacks where he recounts the story of Jenny the orang-utan and meeting natives for the first time.

When writing Creation, screenwriter John Collee said he did not want to portray Darwin as `just another boring scientist", but rather the charming young father he is made out to be in writings from his children. Collee has definitely succeeded in that respect as the character we get is a multi-layered intellectual whose complex thoughts on religion, science and love take a back seat when it comes to his children and wife. However, the problem with the film is they have tried to cram too much into the story. The flashbacks, beautiful and well-constructed as they are, have a jarring affect when the audience is thrown back into the present. The story jumps around so much, it is difficult to tell whether you are watching a flashback or the current plot, with the two becoming confused several times throughout the duration. It is a shame, because there is such tremendous potential here for a great film.

Bettany is, as always, flawless. His physical resemblance to a young Darwin aside, Bettany, he is the heart of Creation and his insatiable curiosity, vulnerability and sweetness make for a captivating portrayal. He delivers one of his best performances to date, which is saying a lot considering his body of work, and he should be contender for an Oscar nomination. Performing alongside Connelly, his real-life wife, adds context to the intricate relationship between Darwin and Emma. Connelly is restrained and rather bland at first, but her performance builds with dramatic intensity throughout the film and she is once again convincing as the wife of a tormented genius after her Oscar-winning turn alongside Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind. Martha West (below right), daughter of The Wire star Dominic West, also puts in an accomplished performance as Annie and she is definitely a young actress to watch.

The film"s production is flawless, with superb direction, costumes, sets, music and breathtaking camera work from British cinematographer Jess Hall. Yet Creation"s achilles heel is the awkward editing and jumpy screenplay which becomes such a collage of experiences and memories that it is difficult to see the overall picture by the film"s end.

VIA «Bettany does the mad genuis thing...» by Jane Storm