Original Sin slipped under the radar and in fact tanked at the box office back in the summer of 2001 despite the fact that it starred Angelina Jolie at the peak of her fame. The movie itself is not bad at all. There are surprises a plenty which of course I won't reveal. Since the expected doesn't occur that provides plenty of incentive to follow the story through to the end. Since the movie is an erotic thriller there are of course... erotic scenes! Ms. Jolie is definitely an attractive woman by conventional standards! It goes without saying that her smoldering looks keep the viewer fixated on her character, Julia. Banderas fans should note that his chemistry with a female costar hasn't been this good since his hookup with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Zorro. Thomas Jane, whose other work I am not familiar with, is also excellent in his role. Very good entertainment, 7/10.
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perfectbond25 February 2003
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Quinoa19846 August 2001Original Sin, a movie with scandal, surprises, and a whole lotta love (I mean the physical kind) has Antonio Banderas as a wealthy Mexican coffee maker owner who orders a mail order bride (weird to have this in 1900) played by Angelina Jolie. They get married, seem to start falling in love, but then the film turns into a twisting film. These twists give some great scenes of power for Banderas and Jolie to work off of, plus a excellent amount of sex and nudity from Jolie and a good feeling for the movie throughout. Unfortunately, the film has some flaws including an overused music score, overacting, scenes that make the film confusing, and an ending that had me a little dissapointed, then really dissapointed. Still , it's OK. Thomas Jane has some wicked fun playing a, uh, detective. B
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sauravjoshi854 December 2020Original Sin is a thriller movie directed by Michael Cristofer and stars Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie and Thomas Jane.
Two great actors Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie, with an impressive plot you'd expect much more but somewhat failed to execute.
Acting by both the leads were decent but the chemistry were clearly missing from both the leads, although Thomas Jane was surprisingly good. Plot could've made more intelligently and the movie start with a loophole. for instance when Luis played by Antonio had introduced himself as poor clerk how did Julia played by Angelina got to know that he is a rich man. Screenplay is unevenly paced and weakens in middle but still manages to hold the audience, climax is good and Cinematography is decent and could've been better.
I have read mix to negative reviews of the movie and in my opinion the movie had the potential to become a great thriller movie but somewhat had missed the mark. -
TxMike22 August 2002Set in the late 1880s in Cuba, Luis (Banderas), a wealthy coffee magnate, places an ad in a Maryland newspaper for a wife, "because America is the future." He tells his close friend, "She is not meant to be beautiful, she's meant to be kind, and true, and young enough to bear children." You see, Luis also thinks, "Love is not for me. Love is for those people who believe in it." He just needed heirs. The boat is due in at 6AM, they can be married at 9AM, and "I can be back to work by 10AM."
The boat comes in, he finds Julia (Jolie), who isn't homely at all, but beautiful. She tells him she sent him a photo of someone else, because she didn't want him to want her just because she was beautiful. To which he replies, "I'm not really a clerk with a coffee company, I own the company. I didn't want you to marry me because I am rich." "The we both cannot be trusted", she says.
some SPOILERS - The movie's title is aptly chosen. "Julia" is really Bonnie, who along with Billy ran away from the orphanage at age 14 and the two of them have lived a life of deceptions ever since. In another version this film could have been called "Billy the pimp and Bonnie the whore." Everything during the first half of this story was their murdering the real Julia on the boat, then assuming her identity so that Bonnie and Billy could steal all Luis' money, which they do after Luis foolishly converts all his accounts to "joint" accounts.
I found the first half of the movie more interesting. Bonnie is narrating from a jail cell, we know she was caught at something, not sure what, and they are preparing to execute her. The second half gets complicated as Billy, posing as a P.I., gets into the mix. The problem Luis has is this, even though he despises what Bonnie has done, he falls inexplicably in love with her, the person he finds in reality, with all her good and bad. She eventually reciprocates, they both end up wanting to get rid of Billy. They do, in an altercation when she shoots him.
Bonnie at the last hour works one more deception, convinces the priest in her cell that she is sorry and seeks forgiveness, and he swaps clothes with her so she escapes right before her execution. In the end we see Bonnie and Luis in Morocco, he is gambling, she is serving, and flashing secret signs for him to win by cheating. He started out as an honest man, she was his Eve, this has become his "original sin."
I can recommend this film, if for no reason than the remarkable job Angelina Jolie does with a script that doesn't deserve it. However, it also tells a good story of how love, in this case Luis', "has power over life." Most of us have done something out of character in the guise of love. The cinematography is lush, and surround sound is used for good effect. Terrence Blanchard (New Orleans trumpeter) adds a very good mood-setting soundtrack, like the wailing and sensuous trumpet tune, accompanied by percussion, during the first love scene. -
ccthemovieman-130 June 2006Here's a "steamy" film - at least early on - about a Cuban (Antonio Bandaras_ who marries an American woman he had only previously written to, only to find out later she (Angelina Jolie) wasn't that woman but a scheming impostor (Billy Bob found this out in real life!)
This is nicely photographed, "lush" being the best adjective to describe it. I didn't find the story very involving, yet it wasn't boring and I could relate to Bandaras' character. Perhaps many men could with the old "love is blind" story.
This is one of those films with poor messages here and there where corrupt people live happily ever after despite their overt sins. There is an "R" version and a "unrated" version of this film, the latter being two minutes longer. -
fernandoschiavi10 September 2022Based on the book "Waltz Into the Darkness", by Cornell Woolrich, Original Sin (Original Sin, 2001) had everything to be a great movie: interesting plot and two great protagonists. But director Michael Christopher gives us a very weak product, which saves only one of the best sex scenes in cinema, between Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. And only. Received with great displeasure by a good part of the critics on its launch occasion, Original Sin starts from a good idea and has a very sensual and attractive atmosphere, lost amidst the novelistic tone.
Here, we follow an aesthetically refined story about Luis Vargas (Antonio Banderas), a powerful man who owns a coffee exporting company in Cuba. Excited by the idea of leaving an heir in the world to carry on his empire, he orders an American bride, Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie), a woman he meets through an exchange of letters. Vargas does not initially aim for romantic love. He just wants the basics of it, a relationship of exchanges, however, he ends up falling in love and together, they star in scathing eroticism scenes, with a lot of delivery from the duo of actors who, regardless of the dramatic quality of the story, duly fulfills their roles.
The problem is that later on, she disappears with her fortune and in the crusade in search of the crook with a magnetic and sensual look, Vargas is filled with rage and suffers the devil to get his honor back. Mysteries and twists demarcate the narrative that can initially mislead us and present false information about Julia. Or not. You will have to watch to know, dear reader, after all, is there a possibility that the girl is not who she says she is, but someone named Bonny Castle? Does she walk alone on her supposed wandering trajectory or does she have support from a small criminal network? Many are the questions, all answered until the closing credits arrive.
Dragged in some passages, the plot invests in many sudden maneuvers, resources to appear more complex than the plot really is. The directors lacked a drydown in the long sequences of little addition to the general context, but even we were dazzled by the images coming from the beautiful production design of David J. Bomba, manager of Beth A. Rubino's sets, enveloping and exquisite architecture. Signed by the Mexican Rodrigo Prieto (photographer of Amores Brutos), the cinematography of Original Sin is dark, in "dirty" tones, trying to give a "noir" flavor to the narrative.
Perhaps the worst problem with Original Sin is the progress given by director Micheal Christopher - who had already directed Angelina Jolie in the award-winning HBO telefilm Gia - Fame and Destruction -, who sins too much in the development of the plot and characters, making the film practically boring. Fully. The characters are poorly worked and presented, giving the impression that the story often jumps in time. The screenplay adaptation tries to romanticize each dialogue, invested in awful dialogue, like "I want to take everything from her and give everything to her." and my favorite "I am a different person with you. Someone more like myself." A dynamic and agitated camera tries to account for the various unexpected events that permeate the plot, but not even the beauty of Angelina Jolie and the charm of Antonio Banderas will be able to make the story grow, which begins vigorously, but loses its intensity as the facts unfold, which happen in an unattractive way. One can easily conclude that the plot had enormous potential, untapped by Christopher. When the very weak and pathetic finale finally arrives, we don't care about the movie anymore. And not even the ravishing beauty of Angelina Jolie arouses us as much interest in what happens on the screen.
The feature that had all the elements to become at least a sensual thriller, goes down to the corniest Mexican drama. Appealing, unlikely and poorly done, not even the much-talked-about nude scenes of the protagonists make up for it. Nothing that "9 ½ Weeks of Love", "Invasion of Privacy" or "Burning Bodies" didn't show and with much more eroticism. The story is predictable and makes you lose interest halfway through the movie. Some scenes are so badly cut that it is possible to think that perhaps the film was extremely cut for the purpose of lowering the rating.
The film's purpose isn't really to tell its story, anyway, but to use it as an engine to put Banderas and Jolie through scenes of eerie melodrama, dramatic ultimatums, and stunning revelations. In fact, none of the characters in "Original Sin" are worthy of our respect. Maybe it's the acting. Antonio Banderas was supposed to be a passionate but doomed lover. He ends up behaving like merely stupid and a teenager. Angelina's character isn't even a true villain; she's just a victimized puppet, a woman who doesn't believe she's lovable. In the end, she believes that she is truly loved, but not much has changed. And Billy.... Ah yes, Billy, our villain. She should clearly represent lust. Unfortunately, he seems totally unreal. His eccentricity is the kind of eccentricity you find in novels. It's a weird sexuality because of the weirdness. But Billy's evil doesn't affect the viewer. We neither hate nor fear him. He makes us laugh because no one like Billie has ever lived on the face of the earth.
The film overflows with sex - marital, weird and others. One guy plants a big kiss on another's mouth. Because? I think because it's there. The movie seems to be saying that love bears everything for the beloved. But there is certainly some discernment in all this giving. Surely those who love should have a conscience... let alone a mind. Certainly passionate love stops at the suicide attempt. Someone should have told Luis that there is a big difference between love and masochism. In the end, the hero loses his nobility and becomes a liar and a cheat. Ah, the transforming power of love!
The film that had all the elements to become at least a sensual thriller, goes down to the corniest Mexican drama. Appealing, unlikely and poorly done, not even the much-talked-about nude scenes of the protagonists make up for it. Nothing that "9 ½ Weeks of Love", "Invasion of Privacy" or "Burning Bodies" didn't show and with much more eroticism. The story is predictable and makes you lose interest halfway through the movie. Some scenes are so badly cut that it is possible to think that perhaps the film was extremely cut for the purpose of lowering the rating.
The film's purpose isn't really to tell its story, anyway, but to use it as an engine to put Banderas and Jolie through scenes of eerie melodrama, dramatic ultimatums, and stunning revelations. In fact, none of the characters in "Original Sin" are worthy of our respect. Maybe it's the acting. Antonio Banderas was supposed to be a passionate but doomed lover. He ends up behaving like merely stupid and a teenager. Angelina's character isn't even a true villain; she's just a victimized puppet, a woman who doesn't believe she's lovable. In the end, she believes that she is truly loved, but not much has changed. And Billy.... Ah yes, Billy, our villain. She should clearly represent lust. Unfortunately, he seems totally unreal. His eccentricity is the kind of eccentricity you find in novels. It's a weird sexuality because of the weirdness. But Billy's evil doesn't affect the viewer. We neither hate nor fear him. He makes us laugh because no one like Billie has ever lived on the face of the earth.
The film overflows with sex - marital, weird and others. One guy plants a big kiss on another's mouth. Because? I think because it's there. The movie seems to be saying that love bears everything for the beloved. But there is certainly some discernment in all this giving. Surely those who love should have a conscience... let alone a mind. Certainly passionate love stops at the suicide attempt. Someone should have told Luis that there is a big difference between love and masochism. In the end, the hero loses his nobility and becomes a liar and a cheat. Ah, the transforming power of love! -
sayeh_abd4 January 2005I think all part of this movie was expectable, we can guess who is a cheater, who is going to die and what is to be with all character! the exiting parts of movie was Banderas and Julie were making love but in spite of this strong love between them why Julie was convinced to poison Banderas when she was not in love with her fellow lover (Thomas Jane)? especially it went so silly in the second half . since i am a huge fan of "Antonio Banderas" i just sat down and watched it all. i liked the songs and "Banderas" playing, but as we know that Original Sin is almost identical and imitation to something that was made before, i want you guys to tell me what was the point???
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ldavis-219 October 2003I rented the unrated version because of - I admit it - the sex scene. What a letdown! As I watched, I kept thinking: "aren't they supposed to be in love?" because they sure didn't act like it. There was no romance, no nothing. Like two wild animals. It left me cold.
The costumes were as yummy as the sets were fake. The leads were badly underwritten. Banderas nails Luis's little-boy innocence, Jolie nails Bonnie's ice-cold cunning, but I didn't care about either of them, nor did I believe that he would willingly ruin himself for her. That he winds up taking Billy's place was beyond belief!
And I have a silly question: how did Billy find out Luis was actually loaded if poor Ms. Russell thought he was just a humble clerk at a coffee company? -
diane-342 January 2006Unfortunately I saw this marvelous film on TV last night-unfortunate because it was on the small TV screen and not a large movie screen. I admit it-I am totally taken by period pieces whose setting is somewhere in Latin America and if those movies have good sets and/or locations then I am smitten. Original Sin, set in Cuba and filmed in Mexico had the visuals down perfect-throw in the acting of Jolie and Banderas and you have a visual feast.
The book/script were fabulous vehicles for the acting of the majors as well as a framework that works beautifully for the intrigues that pepper this film. This script should keep viewers interested throughout and I will definitely be renting this film so that I can savour it without interminable commercials. I want to wallow in the beauty of the images and settings at least one more time.
Any viewer who likes settings and images from slightly earlier times owes it to themselves to look for Original Sin in their local rental shop because it is a wonderful film that seemed to slip by the reviewers when it was released. -
HeatherSpares1 March 2004I must confess before you read this that I am truly a period costume freak, and this time period is one of my favourites.
That out of the way, I still enjoyed this movie. In fact, I had avoided seeing it after it had screened, then after it was released on video... until my best friend and I decided to give it a whirl.
I was NOT disappointed. I was even expecting to be disappointment, and was instead actually pleasantly surprised. Angelina and Antonio are both admirable actors and are not hard to look at either. Sure, it's got sex, love, period costumes and scandal... but so do a lot of other movies that aren't even half as well-made as this one. If you don't expect great things from this movie, if all you want is a decent story with some beautiful eye-candy, then this movie is great. You may even be enthralled like I was with the way the plot twists and turns, or how the power over someone is all in the mind... or the heart.
Overall, give Original Sin some credit and the benefit of the doubt. It might surprise you. -
This movie seems to be a remake of François Truffaut's "La sirène du Mississipi" (1969, "Mississippi Mermaid"). Although this might be becauseboth quote Cornell Woolrich's novel "Waltz into Darkness" as source.
I consider Truffaut's movie to be of better make. The erotic charge is much less in Mississipi Mermaid. The tension between (young) Belmondo and Deneuve is of a very different nature than the relationship between Jolie and Banderas. If you're looking for "hot scenes", go for Benderas & Jolie, if you're into classic cinema, then Truffaut is your choice (but you probably already know that. -
Usually I rely on the voting averages to give me an idea of how good a movie is. I have to admit that a 5.6 rating is much different from what I would give this film.
"Original Sin" seemed to be the movie that everyone walked away from. The only thing I remember about its opening was all the chatter about the nude scenes. I guess it reminded a lot of viewers about the whole "Wild Orchid"/"Showgirls" fiasco which is still etched in the mind's-eye of every self-conscious moviegoer. Perhaps this apparent smoke screen of an issue caused Angelina Jolie's (often chapped and super-pouty) lips to be sealed regarding her role in the movie. Likewise, the dependably silent/aloof Antonio Banderas was even harder to locate when it came to any promotion of the film. And after making sure every radio listener heard, "The Music of My Heart," even the inconspicuously conspicuous Estefans forgot to drop the hint that they contributed to the film's lushly romantic score.
The fact that this was not a perfect movie didn't prevent it from being an excellent one. I think the film's real problem was that it couldn't quite fit into the typical Hollywood hype machine that has crowned more inferior material with non-stop publicity and gratuitously "glowing" reviews. It could also be due to the fact that the plot, "not a love-story, but a story about love," didn't match the small space many viewers have reserved in their hearts for Romance and Drama - just not both!
Anyone who takes the time to TRULY WATCH THIS MOVIE will find that they cannot walk away from loving it. Banderas and Jolie succeed in being both glamorous and gritty. Antonio Banderas is one of the most beguiling actors in contemporary cinema (believe it or not). I am always amazed by the vast artistic depth that lays beneath the stereotypical Latin-lover super-bronzed matinée-idol exterior that he has been assigned to. Banderas' talents, like this movie, are grossly underrated and marginally explored. His every motion gives Vargas the pitch-perfect blend of simplicity and passion. Banderas' portrayal makes it hard not to hurt when Vargas hurts or trust when he trusts. This makes it easy to see why the naive Vargas and the lethal Julia/Bonnie are integrally compatible.
Wacko Jacko antics aside, Jolie, in all her un-Gwynnethness, is a site to have and behold. As the mysterious Julia, she is one mail-order bride who can both sell her body and steal a man's soul. Jolie succeeds in revealing every aspect of Bonnie's internal struggle to achieve personal authenticity while accepting a once-in-a-lifetime chance at true intimacy.
In many ways, the film is about humankind's universal need to be, "who we truly are" as well as the long, winding and often treacherous road toward love's salvation (closely examine the play Julia & Vargas went to see). The movie's many twists and turns represent the bloody sacrifices/transgressions that often mark the way. This was constantly echoed through a script which foreshadowed the story's theme (in a manner both poetic and hypnotic). Equally intoxicating were the use of nontraditional cinematography and sound techniques. They perfectly complemented the period-heavy scenery and costume. All these elements melded to create a picture that was at once abundantly sensual, visually stunning and emotionally sensitive - with an excellent ending!
Oh, and as for the much talked about "skin scenes". I thought they were well done. Gratuitous, yes. Gratifying - definitely! If you've got it, flaunt it. Banderas and Jolie absolutely have it, and then-some! -
mulligen4 September 2006The casting was well done, but in the progress of the movie I kept thinking that I had seen this one before. Then it came to my mind that the story was the story of "La sirene du Mississippi" with Belmondo and Deneuve. The producer must have a nice sense of hummer to give his film the right title then .......... Anyway, Iliked the story (again) and I always find it an entertaining pleasure to look at Jolie and Banderas and being a European it will be quite obvious that I am definitely not offended by some modest nudity as shown in this movie. This was well acted and it seems to me that the cameraman was knew very well what he was doing.
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***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** I'm trying to remember a worse movie that I've seen....can't do it. Maybe it'll come to me before I finish this review. Let's see, how to begin: A rich, handsome, outgoing Cuban businessman(Banderas) intentionally decides to screw up his life. Why?? Blank-out. No answer. The Plan: he decides that a bad marriage will be his downfall. Okay, but how does one intentionally design a marriage to be so bad as to destroy oneself financially, emotionally, spiritually.
**********MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD***********************
Since the antihero is handsome, rich, and outgoing he could easily marry one of any number of women, most of whom would jump at the chance. Many of these theoretical matches might possibly work out. No, no...there's got to be a worse way. I know: the man must marry a complete stranger found via a newspaper ad placed in a foreign country. That's it. And to lessen the probability that she is compatible with the man, the woman must arrive in the man's country no more than 3 hours before the wedding takes place. The man and woman must know nothing about one another except the lies they've exchanged with each other in establishing contact via the mail.
Okay, now here's the shocker. Are you ready for this. Hold on to your seat. Despite these elaborate plans to undermine the marriage from the start, the marriage does not in fact work out and the man is destroyed financially, emotionally and spiritually. What I have just related is the precise opening premise this movie expects you swallow in order to grab your attention for the movie's remainder. If it sounds implausible to the point of imbecility, well, that is not my fault.
To be fair, although this movie in no way deserves it, the woman he marries is a con artist(Jolie) who has helped kill the actual intended bride and assumed her identity. But that absolutely doesn't matter, because it may just as well have been the con artist who answered the man's marriage ad as any other woman.
I really can't discuss this movie much further...the level of irritation Original Sin caused me makes it out of the question. Let me just say that the account I've related so far is not the most implausible element in the movie. For example, let's assume for the sake of argument that you are a psychopath. Somebody tells you they love you a total of 999 times. But you are a psychopath and it has no effect. So you decide to poison the person who loves you. Hey, it's what psychopaths do. Somehow the person finds out you've poisoned their drink and they tell you. Right before the person drinks the poison they tell you for the 1000th time that they love you. They knowingly begin to drink the poison. Suddenly, the scales of psychopathology fall from your eyes and you see everything in a different light. You spring to your feet with all the good-hearted innocence that a recently cured criminally insane person can muster and try to knock the poisoned drink from their hands.
Here are the crucial questions: Do you find this plausible? Possible? Psychologically realistic? If so, let me state in the strongest possible terms: This movie was made for you.
Hey, I just had a revelation. I just remembered a worse movie I saw: Ed Wood's Love Feast, aka Pretty Models All In a Row. I knew I could do it!! -
Pookyiscute10 April 2004This movie was surprising to put it mildly. When I saw the cover, I figured it was going to be just your typical dark love story...ha ha, guess again. This movie was awesome! Not only does it keep you guessing throughout the entire story, you can't help but notice all of the eye stoppers. The cinematography was absolutely stunning, the filming locations were impeccable for beautiful scenery and spots, and the graphic love scenes...well, as much as I could have done without them, they certainly did add a lot to the film. Every part of the movie was exceptionally well done, and I fell in love with this piece.
If you're a movie buff like me, you might remember a little film that came out in 1994 with James Spader entitled 'DreamLover'. Now, although that movie is surpassed by Banderas and Jolie's hit, they do share a bit of the same flavor as one another. I remember seeing the Spader flick on t.v. one night and thought it was really great, however after seeing this I was reminded of the film, and thought that they shared similar traits. Though, as I said before, this movie was a lot better. Much more A quality, bigger names, bigger production, and basically more money was spent making it, which more often than not, is a good thing, and helps the film rather than hurting it.
Jolie and Banderas have never been favorites of mine, and in fact the only movie I ever liked Angelina in before this was 'Girl Interrupted', and Banderas in 'Two Much'. This one, though, made me think twice about both the actors abilities on screen. They executed such a great chemistry between one another. I found myself even crying by the end of the movie. It is truly unlike any other movie I've ever seen. Sure, the premise was similar to others that I have seen in the past, but the directing, acting and just whole feel of the film was so unique and so on its own. I loved it! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great intense romance.
I would advice, however, that some of the scenes especially at the beginning are a bit crazy (sexually that is). Bare breasts, and well, just a whole lot of nakedness kind of take over the movie from time to time, so parents caution.
But, otherwise I give the movie two thumbs up, it rocked! I give it a 10/10! Great story about love! -
With much trepidation I ventured to go see Original Sin. It was with hesitation and angst because I really didn't think there was much to look forward to in the film. The trailers didn't make it look overly appealing and to be honest I really didn't hear much from the stars in the promotion department. But, today it is about 45 degrees here in Toronto ( that is about 110 for our metrically challenged American friends ) and even though I had pretty much seen everything else, the idea of spending 2 hours in an air conditioned theater and only paying six dollars to see the film, appealed to me. So I did. And to be honest, I can't decide if it is a film that I enjoyed or I despised or if it is somewhere in between. There were times when I was mildly interested, times when I was emotionally involved and there were many times when I was completely apathetic to it. So what do I say about a film that makes me feel so much yet so little. Well it was better than many of the teen gross out comedies that have come out in the past few years and not as good as almost every other film I have seen. So that means it rates around a 6 out of 10.
Spoilers ahead!
The film is about deceit and how love can blind you and make you do silly and/or stupid things. Antonio Banderas has it all at the beginning of this film. He is a handsome man that enjoys the fruits of his coffee business and he is now looking forward to meeting his new bride that he sent away for from the U.S. ( leave it up to those damn Americans to ruin everything ). What was puzzling was why Jolie has a British accent if she was from Delaware or Maryland or wherever. But no matter. Jolie is that bride and when asked why she replied to newspaper about a Cuban that wanted a woman to marry and bear children, she replies that she is looking to forget the past and start a new future. So they move on and get married that same day.
The beginning of the film moves along at a snails pace. For the first half an hour, nothing happened. They met, they married, they had sex, in which we get to see lots of Jolie and her ample bosom, but it was actually quite boring. Then something wonderful happens. We find out that Jolie is not who she says she is and she has taken all of his money and left him, penniless and heart broken. Now I was intrigued and for the next half an hour we get to see the deception involved. Banderas goes to Havana to find her with the help of a detective from the U.S. and low and behold, he finds her in Havana. They make up and then get back together and then the real deceit begins.
Original Sin is good when there are elements of surprise flanking the story but incredibly mundane when they are telling the rest of the tale. There are two many shots of Jolies' lips and to agree with some of the other reviewers in here, the editting in the film was bothersome and annoying. I don't know why they would edit it that way except to think that they did it because it is like they were editting it the way someone tells a story, with deliberate breaks and rebeginnings. Sort of like..." and then she did this" "and then he came to her" and so on. But the editting process was not at all done properly and no matter what effect they were going for, it failed miserably.
Finally we get to the end where it makes the film sort of misunderstood, at least by me. I couldn't understand what they were trying to tell the audience, and they were clearly talking to the audience as they looked straight into the camera and told their tale. It reminded me a bit of The Usual Suspects in the sense that you are wondering if this was a story all told from the two leads point of view, therefore never knowing what was real and what was a fabrication.
Original Sin is not a terrible film, it isn't a great film. It is a little murky and if that is what they were going for then they succeeded beautifully. I wouldn't want to see it again, even though there are many unanswered questions. It was just too... strange.
6 out of 10-- Not something you want to spend your money on in the summer time. Bring on American Pie 2!! -
gummitch-27 June 2002I thought this one could be a real stinker. I ended up kinda liking it. All right, the sex scenes were ludicrous and the ending is just plain *stoopid*, but I loved the music and the costumes. Poor Antonio Banderas was rather nice, but his character looked quite dumb. Angelina Jolie couldn't save this film but at least she tried to. On the other hand, I really liked the supporting actors: Thomas Jane was the only sexy thing in the whole movie as everyone's favourite sadistic bully. His character was loathsome, but there was some strength in Mr Jane's performance, I thought his Billy was the only one who cared about something. All he knew was violence, that's the way he was raised, and he expressed his "love" with violence. Very compelling performance. And it's always nice to see Jack Thompson: he was typecast but he's always a first class actor.
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atlasmb8 April 2014"Original Sin" starts with an improbable premise: that a wealthy man would venture to marry a woman he had never met and a beautiful woman would agree to marry a man she had never met. When we first meet Luis Vargas (Antonio Banderas) and Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie), there is the inescapable feeling that neither would have trouble finding a mate. We are half correct.
This story has a number of twists in it, twists that I won't divulge so that the viewer's journey is more enjoyable.
Luis owns a coffee plantation in Cuba. He falls in love with Julia. Their lives seem idyllic until the young woman disappears. The romance now becomes a mystery. In his efforts to discover what happened to Julia, Luis crosses paths with those of the lower social strata, shall we say, and his love propels him to make choices that he never would have dreamed of in his pre-Julia days.
Along the way, the story of "Original Sin" takes a turn near "Vertigo" then continues on its winding way into unforeseen areas. The plot involves mistaken identities, a few red herrings, and some major grifting. In the end, all the piece of this puzzle come together, leaving us with a tale about love, faith and, maybe, redemption.
The entire journey is lovingly filmed in some beautiful Mexican settings. The two lovers are beautiful in their own rights and the camera dwells on their images as part of the lush environs. But Banderas and Jolie are more than pretty faces; their acting is convincing. For the most part, the other actors also feel like they inhabit the places and times of "Original Sin".
Anything more I might say about this film could reveal some plot lines, so I will just say I give it a score of 7 out of 10. -
moonspinner558 August 2010A wealthy, handsome businessman in 1880s Havana advertises in the States for a marriageable woman to sail to his country, become his bride, and bear his children; however, the sultry, lusty young thing who arrives from Delaware curiously bears no resemblance to the photograph she has sent (she's even hotter!), and soon a private detective is snooping about asking questions. Cornell Woolrich's novel "Waltz Into Darkness" would seem an ideal murder-mystery/sexual thriller to absorb a modern-day audience (as a storyteller, Woolrich was far ahead of his time), but writer-director Michael Cristofer doesn't have the teasing personality, nor the sure-handed style, to bring out the juicy twists of this tale. Leads Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie look good together in and out of their clothes, but his forceful, full-blooded acting eclipses hers by a mile. Jolie is not convincing in this period setting; she has little range and, once the camera begins feasting upon her features in Mount Rushmore-like close-ups, her focus visibly wavers (it's a dreadful performance). Told in flashback, we are immediately privy to Jolie's mysteries, with an outcome that defies explanation. Cristofer intermittently tries out different photographic tricks and editing techniques, presumably to pad the running time but in effect showing off his uncertainty as a filmmaker. The dialogue (and Jolie's indifferent delivery of it) is often ludicrously funny, though Banderas deserves credit for at least attempting to take his part of the project seriously. *1/2 from ****
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el_nickster11 May 2005The film's plot, script, and acting are only average, but the film is buoyed by some sizzling chemistry between Jolie and Banderas. Their sex scenes are extremely memorable, so make sure you get an un-edited version (unrated).
Banderas plays a wealthy Cuban coffee farmer whose dedication to his trade has thus-far distracted him from the important business of finding a good wife. Using a matchmaker, he agrees to marry a woman from Connecticuit. He has been dishonest, however, in describing himself as a man of only average means. Banderas admits his dishonesty to his new wife (Jolie). However, it soon becomes clear that there is more to her than meets the eye, as well. Soon Banderas becomes so obsessed with Jolie that her lies destroy his entire life. He is well aware of what is happening every step of the way, but he doesn't care.
So, this is an interesting movie for a few reasons. As stated above, the sex scenes are among the best ever filmed. It is also novel to see a film about a man who is actually obsessed about his own wife. I personally could identify with Banderas in his willingness to give up everything for woman he knows he cannot trust. Heck, it happens to the best of us. -
I find it difficult to pass judgement of films based on novels when I have not read the novel. (unless of course the novelist was the screen writer like Michael Blake with Dances with Wolves) Original Sin feels like somewhat familiar territory. I cannot quite pin point a film off the back of my head which used this idea. I suppose though, that if labelled an erotic thriller anyone can name fifty films off the back of their heads. I think I can see Original Sin working as a novel. As a movie though, it has some storytelling problems, which depending on your attention span may weaken the experience. I am reminded a bit of Basic Instinct. What we have here a sexy and erotic game which sort of goes in circles. Original Sin is the superior movie in part because it is more beautiful, the sex is less distracting, Banderas and Jolie are a better screen couple, and the ending of the movie is a nice touch.
Set in Havana, in what looks like the late 19th century. The curtain rises on the luxurious home of Don Luis Vargas. He has recently mail ordered a bride from the states, who shows up the next day. Her name is Julia. They are married in the sunshine of a beautiful afternoon, and they are happy. A few days later however, Julia disappears. Not only that but Luis' bank accounts have been cleared. Not only that, but he finds out that the girl he married is not the Julia Russell he has been sending letters to in the months leading up to their wedding. Oh and not only THAT but the real Julia may have been killed at this woman's hand. suddenly Vargas is in the middle of a very dangerous game, once he goes looking for his apparent wife.
The film is sprinkled with several contrived twists and turns, which are typical of almost all thrillers. It is not inventive in the least, but it IS aesthetically evocative, and fairly engaging. In the same way Titanic was a contemporary love story set a hundred years ago, Original Sin is a contemporary erotic-thriller set around the same time (give or take a couple of decades) It turns out to be not bad, there is certainly room for improvement, but it's watchable. -
hall89521 December 2012Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie star in an erotic thriller which is not particularly erotic and certainly not thrilling. Yes, the obligatory Banderas-Jolie sex scene sizzles. But after that the movie fizzles out completely. The heat goes out of this movie very early on. The story relies on myriad plot twists which never really convince or satisfy. The dialogue is awkward throughout, often downright laughable. The acting leaves much to be desired. Banderas and Jolie are not very good. But they're better than Thomas Jane who, in the movie's one key supporting role, hams it up to ridiculous extent. There are a few interesting moments sprinkled throughout. But not nearly enough of them to save what is ultimately a rather bad movie.
The movie's story is told in flashback with Jolie's character, Julia, narrating. She does so from a prison where she is awaiting execution. How did she get there? Should be interesting finding out. Should be but really isn't. The story unfolds in 19th century Cuba with the Banderas character, Luis, having sent for a mail-order bride. Julia duly arrives from Delaware but she is not the woman in the photograph she had sent ahead of her arrival. She is not the woman she claimed to be but Luis is not who he claimed to be either, much wealthier than he had let on. But while it becomes apparent that Luis truly has the best of intentions it is just as clear that Julia is a woman with some demons and secrets. What darkness lies beneath the surface? Detective Walter Downs, played by Jane, shows up to help Luis sort out the mess Julia makes. From here the story relies on tricks. But you can see the twists and turns coming a mile away. There's nothing to surprise you. There's really very little of interest at all. The story limps along towards its conclusion. Yes, we find out why Julia's in that prison cell. But by the time we do most in the audience will find they really don't care anymore. The movie has completely lost its hold on us. And then as a final insult the ending is just ludicrously stupid, a tacked-on bit of nonsense which undercuts the whole movie. Not that there was very much worthwhile to be undercut anyway. -
georgeleague5 July 2003No long comment here. I just thought it was a great movie. A lot if intrigue and plot twists, and of course, Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas were well matched as lovers. There was a lot more to this movie than just the sex scenes. 10/10.
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leplatypus13 February 2011Back to back with director Cristofer and this time, he finally has a decent movie: Gone the stupid scripts, the flashy pain because here it's a good love story mated with a riveting thriller.
At first, when i discovered that the story was set in Spanish culture (explaining the casting of Banderas), i was dubious but the director really focuses on the characters and their relationships. In addition, his camera is quick and it has the exciting move of surrounding, traveling the characters, even as they walk. But, he is maybe too fast because i don't understand two moments: first, when Banderas meets again with the detective, why there's no mention of their Sunday meeting? Two, why did they go then to Havana?
Overall, I think this movie offers great lines about love ("to give") and lust ("to take") and portrays true lovers, because Banderas and Angie are ready to follow whatever the blows they got. (Personnaly, i lived that and i quit!).
I admit that Banderas is a truly gifted actor and that it was cool to see Angelina back in her old powerful characters after her recent failures. Jane (the actor) is really the irritating guy because he has already annoyed "La" Bellucci in "Under suspicion". -
richanderson-9966715 August 2022The story, the script (mostly), the photography a, stes and costumes are worthy of a movie in the top class. Antonio Banderas is terrific in the lead male role: he imbues his character with total credibility. However, the flaw in this movie lies with the lead female character: Angelina Jolie. While Banderas looks and acts like a man of the of the nineteenth century with myriad desires and characteristics, Jolie acts like she she just wandered in from the set of Baywatch. Her repertoire of acting skills is minimal: she glowers, looks cute, looks happy, looks sensual within a small range of emotions. If she and the director thought the sight of her breasts were enough to give a scene passion, they were seriously misguided. I have enjoyed Jolie in other movies, but this is a stinker of a performance.