This movie, with its originality and unique storyline, is inspiration and proof that the film industry is not dead. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Ian (Michael Pitt) is no exception to that. He is a scientist who becomes infatuated with the complexity involved with the way each individual has their own distinct set of eyes"”or so he thought. Ian has an unusual hobby of collecting high resolution photos of people's irises; much like a finger print or DNA strand, each is unique to the individual. With the help of his new intern, Karen (Brit Marling), who is wise beyond her years, they try to unravel the mystery behind the natural evolution of eyes.
The film begins with Ian wandering with his camera at a Halloween party. He spots a burlesque criminal (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) who steals his heart by way of her unique colored eyes. He can't help but snap a photo of her eyes. By the end of the night, the star-crossed lovers go their separate ways. Back at the lab, Ian's mind remains lost in her eyes, unable to focus on work. Ian tries to track down his mystery lady by the only way he can think, her eyes. Just when you think Ian has it all figured out, Mike Cahill opens a whole new can of worms. You'll know later"¦
Written and directed by Mike Cahill, I Origins is a wonderful departure from the super hero fanfare of the summer. Part sci-fi/romance, I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of new-found love. I will say, for an arthouse film, it was a bit predictable, but it was such a well made film in all respects that it was easy to overlook. With the combination of stellar acting, great editing and amazing cinematography, this film is a celebration of the return of sci-fi.
