Writer: Mike Cahill (Screenplay)
Starring: Michael Pitt, Steven Yeun, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Brit Marling
Plot: A molecular biologist and his laboratory partner uncover evidence that may fundamentally change society as we know it.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Disappoint & Slow
Story: I Origins starts with Ian (Pitt) a young man that loves to take photos of people’s eyes as he is fascinated by the difference in all of them, until he meets the girl with the perfect eyes but before he learns her name she runs. Ian has been working finding a way to cure colour-blindness with his assistant Karen (Marling).
Searching for the girl he ends up finding her Sofi (Berges-Frisbey) as the two start a romance which challenges anything Ian has ever been taught from science. This forces Ian to question his work as this new philosophy is all about one scientific creation rather than changing them through science. When Sofi is killed Ian learns that maybe science isn’t the only answer to life.
I Origins is a film I really wanted to see, I like see the science versus faith play out and this should have achieved this. My big problem with this film is that is focuses on the science way too much and when it comes to the discovery we are left only using science to try and prove whether it is real or not. It is also very slow moving giving us very little to get excited about. We never see if this has been happening for a while or is it just started to happen and how much of the reincarnations are impacting the lives. I don’t want to just say this film is bad because I do think this is an interesting concept that does test the audience but it is not for a casual film fan to put on and just enjoy.
Actor Review
Michael Pitt: Ian is a man that grew up on science where he works in a field studying eyes and vision. His life is turned upside by a free spirit Sofi that gives him a whirlwind romance that makes him look at the world differently. When he has a child of his own the idea of reincarnation becomes apparent. Michael gives us a good performance but never convinces in this leading role.
Steven Yeun: Kenny is the roommate of Ian’s before becoming a business associate when it comes to the marketing of his eye scanning device. He helps figure out what the connections between similar individual eyes repeating. Steven is nothing more than a supporting member of the cast that really doesn’t get much to do.
Astrid Berges-Frisbey: Sofi is the free spirit that changes the life of Ian showing him that science doesn’t have all of the answers in life. When she is killed it is her eyes that resurface that finally challenges Ian to get to the next answer. Astrid is good in this role but I think it would be fair to say we would have liked to have seen more.
Brit Marling: Karen is the lab assistant before becoming the wife of Ian once Sofi dies, with like-minded scientific minds we find the two having to answer questions about whether Sofi has been reincarnated like it appears their son has been. Brit is good but not to the levels we like to see from her in other challenging roles.
Support Cast: I Origins doesn’t have the biggest supporting cast with most only appearing in the final third of the film.
Director Review: Mike Cahill – Mike gives us a good idea that doesn’t pull us in enough to get fully fascinated in the idea.
Sci-Fi: I Origins gives us looking at the science of reincarnation.
Settings: I Origins doesn’t give us the most important use of settings, with nothing being important to the story.
Suggestion: I Origins is one to try but you will need to give the film full attention. (Try It)
Best Part: Concept it very interesting.
Worst Part: Slightly slow
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
Overall: Slow Burner with an interesting concept
Rating