Eden
- Ben Pivoz
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In 1929, Dr. Friedrich Ritter and his partner, Dore Strauch, traveled to the uninhabited island of Floreana in the Galapagos, where Ritter intended to explore what life and humanity really means. He was planning on writing a paper that would change the world. His exploits were discussed in several newspapers and magazines, leading other European expatriates to want to experience the purity of nature for themselves. First came the Wittmer family, merely using it as an opportunity to start a new life. Then came the flamboyant Baroness Eloise von Wagner-Bousquet, who plotted to turn the island into an expensive resort for the very wealthy. Unfortunately for them, Ritter was openly hostile to the idea of neighbors, resulting in a fierce conflict of survival.
The true story is quite fascinating and has lent itself to numerous books and documentaries. The movie version, dramatized in Ron Howard’s Eden, does not seem to have any clue whatsoever of what it actually wants to do with this material. It certainly has no comments at all about Ritter’s concepts or the Lord of the Flies-esque, animalistic behavior these people devolved into. As drama, it is dull and pointless, slow, predictable and completely without style. However, as melodrama, it achieves a level of camp that is fairly entertaining.
Every actor performs as though they are in a different movie, the dialogue tends toward pretentious nonsense, and the filmmaking gives a strong air of self-importance, like Howard thought he was making an Oscar contender. It does not work even the slightest bit as straight, meaningful drama. But there are stretches that are goofy and over-the-top enough to work on that level. I certainly can’t recommend a trip to the theater, yet watching it at home with some friends could potentially make for a good time.
Sydney Sweeney is obviously the biggest name in the cast and she is actually pretty decent as the anxious, in over her head, young wife/stepmother Margret Wittmer. Her German accent is a little shaky, to be sure. Still, she acquits herself well, even in the ridiculous scene where she has to give birth alone, while being menaced by a pack of feral dogs. Daniel Brühl is largely wasted as her husband, whose opinions are at the whim of the screenplay. Jude Law chews on some of the scenery as Ritter, a man who has intense feelings about society. The screenplay doesn’t let us in on what those feelings are exactly, but trust me, they are intense. Vanessa Kirby is also largely wasted as Dore, though she has a couple of genuinely good moments, buried in the aimlessness.
Among all that talent, the highlight of the movie by far is Ana de Armas as the manipulative, scheming Baroness. The way she struts around the island, transparently trying to play the other residents against each other, while taking supplies and land for herself, is tremendously amusing. She is ostensibly the villain, despite Ritter being arguably just as bad, yet she is undoubtedly the best part of the production. Not a single thing about this woman is believable. Regardless, de Armas throws herself into the role, effortlessly stealing every scene she is in.
Eden (123 minutes, not including the end credits) is not a good movie. However, it comes close to being a good bad movie. It isn’t quite bad enough for that, mostly settling in as dumb and boring, with flashes of entertainment. The story is kind of interesting, even in this super messy adaptation, and Ana de Armas is spectacularly enjoyable. I think the likelihood of this fading from memory is a lot higher than this becoming a sort of rediscovered classic. I guess Ron Howard tried something, though it is a mystery what he really thought he was doing here.
2½ out of 5
Jude Law as Ritter
Sydney Sweeney as Margret
Daniel Brühl as Heinz
Ana de Armas as Baroness
Vanessa Kirby as Dore
Felix Kammerer as Rudolph
Toby Wallace as Robert
Jonathan Tittel as Harry
Directed by Ron Howard
Screenplay by Noah Pink
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