Original Sin (2001 film)

Original Sin
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Cristofer
Produced by	Denise Di Novi Kate Guinzberg Carol Lees
Written by	Cornell Woolrich Michael Cristofer
Starring	Antonio Banderas Angelina Jolie Thomas Jane
Music by	Terence Blanchard
Cinematography	Rodrigo Prieto
Studio	Hyde Park Entertainment
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	August 3, 2001 (USA)
Running time	116 min./118 min. (unrated version)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$26,000,000[1]
Box office	$36,402,320[2]

Original Sin is a 2001 movie starring Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas. It is based on the novel Waltz into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich, and is a remake of the 1969 Francois Truffaut film Mississippi Mermaid. Jolie was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award in 2001 for Worst Actress for her work in Original Sin and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Plot

Original Sin is set in the late 19th century Cuba,^[3][4] and flashes back and forth a few times from the scene of a woman awaiting her execution by garrote while telling her story to a priest, to the actual events of that story.

Luis Vargas (Antonio Banderas), a wealthy Cuban businessman, sends for American Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie) to sail to his country to be his bride. Julia departs from the ship, looking nothing like the photos she's sent prior to her voyage. Julia explains she wants more than a man who is interested in a pretty face, and that's why she's been deceptive - substituting a plain-looking woman in place of her own picture. Luis also admits to deception; he's been misleading her into believing he's a poor working man, instead of the rich owner of a coffee company.

Luis and Julia wed within hours of her setting foot in Cuba. Luis falls passionately in love with his new wife, while Julia seems to be fighting inner demons.

Meanwhile, Julia's sister Emily has been trying to contact her, worried about her after such a long trip to a strange land. Luis forces Julia to write back, fearing that if Julia continues to ignore Emily's letters, Emily will assume something terrible has befallen her sister and might send the authorities to check on her welfare. Holding off as long as possible, Julia finally pens a letter to her sister.

In order to assure that his wife has everything she wants, Luis adds Julia to his business and personal bank accounts, giving her free rein to spend as she pleases. Luis discovers Julia has run off with nearly all of his fortune, and then teams up with a detective, Walter Downs (Thomas Jane). Walter reveals to Luis he believes Julia to be an impostor and the intended wife to be dead by her hand, and that she may be working with someone. The two set out together looking for her.

Luis finds Julia and discovers she is actually working with Walter. He believes she loves him and lies to Walter, but when confronted by him a fight breaks out and Luis shoots Walter. Julia coldly tells Luis to go and buy them tickets home, but the minute he leaves, Walter gets to his feet; he had loaded the gun with blanks. Julia appears to love Luis, but Walter has too much control over her, so she continues to work for him as she and Luis run off to live in secret with the supposedly dead Walter on their tail.

Luis throws away his promising future and opens himself to living a lie with Julia. One night Luis follows Julia and discovers Walter is alive and the two are still working together; she is apparently going to poison her husband that very night. He returns home and waits for her, and when she arrives reveals he knows of the plan, confesses his love for her once more and swallows the poisoned drink. Julia flees with the dying Luis, with Walter close behind. They run into him at a train station; Walter is furious that Julia has betrayed him. While Walter holds a knife to her throat, Luis shoots and wounds him, with Julia finishing him off.

Back in the mise en scene, Julia finishes her story and asks the priest to pray with her. The next morning the guards come to her cell to take her to her execution, only to find the priest in her clothing.

In Morocco, Julia is watching a card game. She walks around the table occupied by gamblers — including Luis — and thanks them for allowing her to watch. As Julia signals Luis about the other players' cards, he begins telling them the story of how they got there.

Cast

Actor	Role
Antonio Banderas	Luis Vargas
Angelina Jolie	Julia Russell/Bonny Castle
Thomas Jane	Walter Downs/Billy
Jack Thompson	Alan Jordan
Gregory Itzin	Colonel Worth
James Haven	Faust, on Stage

Trivia

• The title was changed to avoid confusion with the musical drama Dancer in the Dark (2000).
• About two minutes of footage was cut from the sex scene for television showings, including those on cable. These two minutes are included in the unrated DVD version.
• The plantation house is a real sugar cane plantation manor, albeit abandoned.

Award nominations

• Golden Raspberry Award:
  • Worst Actress (Angelina Jolie)

References

1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218922/business
2. ^ "Original Sin (2001)". Box Office Mojo. 2002-08-28. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=originalsin.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
3. ^ "Original Sin". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/original_sin/. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
4. ^ Anthony Leong. "Original Sin Movie Review". MediaCircus.net. http://www.mediacircus.net/originalsin.html. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 

External links

• Original Sin at the Internet Movie Database
• Original Sin at AllRovi
• Original Sin at Rotten Tomatoes