Original Sin (2001)

A young man is plunged into a life of subterfuge, deceit and mistaken identity in pursuit of a femme fatale whose heart is never quite within his grasp. Remake of François Truffaut's 1969 film 'Mississippi Mermaid'

Director:

Michael Cristofer

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (novel), Michael Cristofer (screenplay)

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie, Thomas Jane

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Luis Antonio Vargas
Angelina Jolie	...	Julia Russell / Bonny Castle
Thomas Jane	...	Billy / Walter Downs / Mephisto
Jack Thompson	...	Alan Jordan
Gregory Itzin	...	Colonel Worth
Allison Mackie	...	Augusta Jordan
Joan Pringle	...	Sara
Cordelia Richards	...	Emily Russell
James Haven	...	Faust - Stage
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Jorge Cortés (as Pedro Armendáriz)
Mario Iván Martínez	...	Cuban Priest
Harry Porter	...	Stage Manager
Fernando Torre Laphame	...	Wedding Priest (as Fernando Torre Lapham)
Shaula Vega	...	Dressmaker Girl
Lisa Owen	...	Margareta - Stage

Storyline

Can love release our true self? A wealthy Cuban coffee exporter, Luis Vargas, advertises for a US wife; Julia Russell, from Delaware, sends her photograph, but the woman who steps off the ship is much lovelier. Luis marries her immediately and gives in to love. But Julia may not be who she claims: first a private eye shows up on behalf of Julia's sister, then the sister herself. By now, Luis has given his wife access to bank accounts, and when she runs with his cash, he pursues her, with the help of Downs, the P.I., perhaps to kill her. Pursuit may be part of a con game as well, and Julia's past explains some, if not all, of what remains of the story. A priest hears her confession.

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Plot Keywords:

love | pursuit | sex | cuban | bride | 

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Taglines:

Loves a Killer.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

France USA

Language:

English German Japanese Latin Spanish

Release Date:

3 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dancing in the Dark

Filming Locations:

Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$614,343 (Italy) (16 November 2001)

Gross:

$614,343 (Italy) (16 November 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Hyde Park Entertainment, Via Rosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 118 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michelle Pfeiffer's production company had originally purchased the rights to the novel with the intention that Pfeiffer herself would star. However the actress opted to simply serve as producer on the film.

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Goofs

When Vargas first meets Julia, we see her from his POV and the umbrella she carries is held high enough that he has the sun in his eyes and can't see her face. When we see him from Julia's left, the umbrella is lower and there's a shadow on his face.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Julia: You cannot walk away from love. That was the advertisement in a Baltimore newspaper. And that is how he found her.

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Connections

Version of Kamen no hanayome - Kurayami e no waltz (1981)

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Soundtracks

"No One"
Words by Michael Cristofer
Music by Bunny Andrews (as Bunny Andrews)

User Reviews

Surprisingly Good

I was pleasantly surprised at this film. Thinking it was more or less about Jolie's T&A, it actually had a decent plot with some twists and turns running throughout. I liked this film a lot. Her character had many levels that you didn't see coming. It seemed like a one dimensional character as most temptresses are, but Jolie was nothing of the sort. She attacked the role with her usual vigor and gave life to what could have been a meaningless character. Banderas was a little overdone I think, but it kinda makes sense with the lines he was given. Being all obsessed with his wife like that can make you seem overly dramatic. I'd recommend it.