By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
An intriguing true story, psychological warfare, and murderous intent are not enough to keep this movie from spoiling like a rotten apple. “Eden” is a new thriller from famed director Ron Howard and is based on the astonishing true events of people flocking to the Galapagos Islands to start their lives over and create a new society. The storyline may be compelling, but several underwhelming performances and a lack of character and emotional depth make this film less than heavenly.
Having discarded all their worldly possessions and vacated Germany, Dr. Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) make a home on an uninhabited island within the Galapagos in 1929. Ritter’s goal is to write a book that will solve current government and societal problems and allow the world to be saved from itself. Inspired by their selfless commitment, Heinz (Daniel Brühl), his wife Margret (Sydney Sweeney), and his son Harry (Jonathan Tittel) join them on this remote island.
Disgruntled about losing their isolation, Ritter begrudgingly allows the family to settle up the hill from them. He’s pushed to the edge when the Baroness (Ana de Armas) arrives with her entourage to make plans for a lavish hotel near the beach. Accustomed to getting her way through her beauty and manipulation, the Baroness immediately ruffles everyone’s feathers. Even though the living and environmental conditions are brutally dangerous, the real threat to these interlopers’ lives is each other.
Oscar winner Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”) co-writes and directs his most schizophrenic motion picture to date. He infuses a strong sense of paranoia in this true narrative while stripping humanity down to its most basic, most animalistic form. This weaves an interesting enough web of deceit, survival, sex, and murder that captivates attention. However, Howard forgets the most crucial element to making this a film worth watching. He neglects to tie in any sort of emotional impact, creating a sense of emptiness about it all that disconnects the audience from the messaging.
Pacing also becomes an issue for Howard as the movie goes through inexorably slow moments that were completely unnecessary. Adding to the periodic sluggishness is a lack of context and backstory for the main characters leading to viewer ambivalence towards them. On more of a positive note, the cinematography is buttoned up, simultaneously capturing the beauty and perilous danger of this island. Howard actually filmed the scenes in Australia, but he successfully transforms the location to make the audience feel like they’re in the Galapagos.
Having two of the worst actresses in Hollywood in starring roles for the same film is unwise, but that is precisely what happens here. Sydney Sweeney, coming off her most recent failure with last week’s “Americana,” has an important role as a supportive German wife doing her best to make a family home on this unforgiving island. Her attempt at a German accent sounded more like some kind of broken English accent, and her vacant, expressionless gaze underscores a soulless performance. However, she did have one impressive scene where she was giving birth while trying to fend off a pack of wild dogs. Meanwhile, Cuban born actress Ana de Armas plays the highly unlikable Baroness character, who uses her physical appeal to manipulate men to do what she wants. Her scene of doing a provocative song and dance number was cringeworthy to the point of being laughable.
English actor Jude Law is an accomplished talent who can play a wide variety of roles, but he also struggles maintaining a convincing German accent throughout the movie. Although, he does an excellent job of portraying the ego and self-absorbed nature of the German doctor. The two standout performances in the film belong to German actor Daniel Brühl and English actress Vanessa Kirby, both of whom carry their respective scenes. In fact, Kirby had the most challenging part of the cast as the unappreciated, placating love interest of the doctor while suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.
This historical depiction plays more like an unfiltered and unfunny version of “Gilligan’s Island.” While the true elements of “Eden” are an interesting foray into humanity’s more bestial nature, it’s best not to embark on this two-hour tour. At the most, save it for streaming at home if there is nothing better to watch.
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