You remember that sequence in Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World where they are walking around the Galapagos Islands collecting biological samples? Well that sequence made it seem as though a feature film about Charles Darwin could actually be watchable, and to play it safe they cast the doctor from Master & Commander Paul Bettany as Darwin. Well the resulting film is an uneven one. Based on the novel Annie's Box by Darwin descendent Randal Keynes, which in turn is based on family lore, the movie explores how the devastating emotional affects of the loss of his oldest daughter Annie ultimately effected Charles decision to publish his groundbreaking book On the Origin of Species, one of the biggest paradigm shifting books in world history.
Things I liked about the movie include Paul Bettanys performance as Charles, the stuff about the Darwin family particularly his relationship with his religious wife Emma (played by Bettany's real life wife Jennifer Connelly), and the flash back story sequences about The Beagle expedition and Jenny the ape. I didn't like the device about Charles talking to his dead daughter, even though Martha West is good in the part (this is her only movie). Also this movie has a double decker, 'it was only a nightmare'/ waking up in shock sequence. What on Earth is that doing in a Charles Darwin biopic. Still even though its uneven I found it enlightening to learn more about Charles Darwin's personal life, a subject I knew next to nothing about before viewing this movie. **1/2
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