We've gotten two new clips from 'I Origins', Mike Cahill latest sci-fi that asks you to stretch credibility to its breaking point. Last time his pitch was "There's two Earths!" This time it seems two people have exactly the same iris pattern and, well, that means...a lot.

What I can't understand is how Fox Searchlight intends to execute a limited release in the summer? Really, that time of year, after the second weekend it's all but over. That info might be wrong, but it's what they're saying at IMDb.

Secondly, why was this shot hand-held? With this kind of brainy subject, and that release date... Who wants to see a shaky picture in a movie that asks you to think a lot -- that time of year?

The first scene definitely should have been done with camera stands. Rapid edits are okay, but jittery image takes you out of the moment, makes it difficult to connect or care.



Second clip is hand-held as well, though the visual style fits better. Dialogue, however, is too too. I literally broke up laughing when Brit Marling says, "The eyes and the brain are connected." I'm guessing she meant 'soul' not brain, unless her character is that literal minded.

She continues down this path for two or three laborious sentences. I couldn't take it. I stopped the video to catch my breath. Best laugh of the day.

I don't know how anyone could stand this for two hours (yes, it has a 117 minute runtime). Between Marling's self-conscious acting, Cahill's plodding storytelling, that awful endless talking, and damn shaky cam, I couldn't do it.



Here's a bit from Peter Debruge's review:

“I Origins” instead asks intelligent auds to dive deep, while insisting that they overlook its more glaring plot holes.

Fits snugly with my impression.

This is like 'Another Earth' except not as interesting, organic, and with much less sizzle. A second planet Earth -- maybe -- but a second person with a given eye pattern? Can't say I'll be seeing this one.