Creation Tagged Articles at Cinematical
TIFF: 'Creation' Finds No Distribution, Hopes for Controversy to Help
Filed under: Drama », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », Distribution », Toronto International Film Festival »
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Long after his death, Charles Darwin continues to stir up fuss over his landmark theories of evolution, and the producers of TIFF Opening Night Film Creation (watch the trailer after the jump) are clearly hoping to milk said fuss for all the Stateside distribution it's worth.
The Telegraph of the UK has producer Jeremy Thomas on the record as saying, "It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the US, and it's because of what the film is about." He then cites early rave reviews, including anonymous word-of-mouth calling it "the best film they've seen all year", the Hollywood Reporter's positive reaction and the Telegraph's own 300-word review -- accessible through the sponsored page of content linked within the article.
But many critics have simply found the film to be too much of a bore to merit controversy. The A.V. Club's Noel Murray said, "for the most part Creation is Biopic 101, earnest and over-explained." Eric Kohn at Indiewire called it "a dry period piece missing crucial information," while Anne Thompson went with "flat, dull, and painful to sit through." And Ebert? Well, he's basically said that he'll hold his opinion until the film opens, a date which remains to be determined.
At least his non-review can claim to run twice as long as the Telegraph's unabashed praise.
Darwin Beats Canada -- 'Creation' Will Open TIFF
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy », Exhibition », Toronto International Film Festival »
Traditionally, Canadian films have opened the Toronto International Film Festival. It's only natural -- one of the biggest film festivals taking place in Canada makes it the perfect springboard for Canuck cinema. Last year it was Paul Gross' Passchendaele. And before that: Fugitive Pieces, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, and Water. But Darwin is once again changing things. That meddlesome man!The Hollywood Reporter posts that TIFF has picked their opening film, and it will be the Charles Darwin film Creation from director Jon Amiel. (Starring the husband and wife team of Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.) Fest co-director Cameron Bailey says: "By telling a story on many levels, weaving scenes from past and present, this depiction of Darwin promises to deeply move audiences by drawing them into the conflicted mind of a man who presented a concept that changed the world." But is it a story that needed to be told opening night? And replace all Canadian selections? That doesn't bode well for the fest's opinion of the country's films this year.
In brighter news: Following the first 24 films to be announced, there's a whole new list of films that have been picked. This round includes a number of fest favorites and upcoming releases like Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, The Invention of Lying, Bright Star, and The Informant. You can head to THR to see them all.
Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany Debate 'Creation'
Filed under: Drama », Independent », Casting », Deals », Celebrities and Controversy », Scripts », Newsstand », Religious »
Acting couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly must have decided that life would be too calm after November 2008 -- so they have signed to play Charles and Emma Darwin in Creation. Yes, the Darwins. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be directed by Jon Amiel, from a script penned by John Collee, and based on Randal Keynes' book Annie's Box. (Keynes is Darwin's great-great grandson.) The film will portray Charles Darwin as a man torn between his love for his deeply religious wife, and his growing belief in a world where God has no place. I hope that they explore Darwin's personal struggles and belief more deeply than the plot description suggests. To sell him as an athiest smacks of wanting to stir up controversy -- Darwin always called himself an agonostic, and his rejection of Christianity stemmed as much from the tragic death of his daughter, Annie, as his research. It's a complex and fascinating biography, one that, as a lover of science and the history of it, I would love to see done with real justice.
The cast is certainly more than capable -- Bettany and Connelly are both wonderful, and they'll be joined by Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Annie Darwin has yet to be cast. (I can't help but be amused by the fact that Bettany and Northam have played Darwin-inspired characters before, in Master and Commander and Possession, respectively. Pet interest, perhaps?)
I know the merest mention of Charles Darwin is enough to cause an epic flame war in the comments. If it's possible, try to keep discussion only to the film, the actors, the book, and Darwin's biography. That may be too much to hope for, but I beg you to remain respectful and tolerant of one another.
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