Original Sin Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich Cuban dude gets catfished, falls for the catfish, and then ruins his whole life because he has a thing for complicated women; basically, it’s a cautionary tale about online dating in the 1800s with questionable consent.

🍿 Original Sin: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Mail-Order Bride Arrives in Cuba

In late 19th century Cuba, wealthy coffee magnate Luis Antonio Vargas (Antonio Banderas) awaits the arrival of his mail-order bride, Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie), from America. However, the woman who steps off the boat is far more beautiful than the photograph she sent. Julia claims she sent a false picture to ensure Luis would love her for who she is, not her looks. Luis, in turn, admits he presented himself as a clerk to avoid being loved for his wealth.

Deception and Passion

Luis and Julia marry quickly and passionately. However, Julia is haunted by a mysterious past, marked by nightmares and scars. Luis, deeply in love, trusts her implicitly, giving her access to his finances. Suspicion arises when Julia’s sister, Emily, sends a detective, Walter Downs (Thomas Jane), to investigate, claiming the Julia who arrived is an impostor. Then Julia disappears, taking Luis’s fortune with her.

The Pursuit and Betrayal

Heartbroken and ruined, Luis joins forces with Downs to track down Julia, seeking revenge. They discover Julia is working with Downs, but Luis believes Julia is in love with him and only pretending to collaborate. When Luis confronts them, a fight ensues, and he shoots Downs, only to learn Downs had loaded the gun with blanks. Julia reveals she loves Luis, but she continues to work for Downs, who is actually her former lover and partner in crime, Billy.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Luis Antonio Vargas (Antonio Banderas): A wealthy Cuban coffee magnate who falls deeply in love with his mail-order bride, leading to his financial and emotional ruin.
• Julia Russell/Bonnie (Angelina Jolie): A con artist posing as a mail-order bride who initially schemes to defraud Luis but finds herself falling in love with him.
• Billy (Thomas Jane): Julia’s manipulative and sadistic former lover and partner in crime who complicates her relationship with Luis.
• Alan Jordan (Jack Thompson): A friend of Luis who witnesses the development of his relationship with Julia.
• Augusta Jordan (Allison Mackie): Alan’s wife, and another who bears witness to Luis’s relationship and trials.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Luis: “Whore! Liar! Thief! Don’t you see? Don’t you see that I cannot breathe without you? I cannot live without you? Don’t you see that? Don’t you see how much I love you?” – Luis confronts Julia after discovering her betrayal, expressing his desperate love despite her deceit.
• Julia: “I didn’t want you to want me just because I was beautiful.” – Julia explains why she sent Luis a false photograph of herself before arriving in Cuba.
• Luis: “Love is not for me. Love is for those people who believe in it.” – Early in the movie, Luis expresses his pragmatic view of marriage as a business arrangement, before falling in love with Julia.
• Julia: “We both cannot be trusted.” – Julia replies after Luis admits he is a rich coffee owner, and not a clerk.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $42,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $16,534,221
• Worldwide Gross: $35,402,320

💥 Original Sin Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll admit it, I watched this mainly for Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and there are definitely some scenes that made me blush. However, the story gets so convoluted that I almost lost track of what was happening. I was definitely more invested in their relationship than the actual plot, and found myself rooting for them despite all the crazy stuff happening. I’m also a sucker for a period piece, and the Cuba setting was beautifully shot.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas”
  • “Viewers interested in erotic thrillers with a historical setting”
  • “Those who appreciate stories about destructive love and betrayal”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Explicit sexual content including nudity”
  • “Violence”
  • “Mature themes and situations”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite the star power of Jolie and Banderas, Original Sin fails to deliver on its promises of steamy thrills and suspense, resulting in a melodramatic and ultimately forgettable film.
• Ebert: “Ebert praises Banderas and Jolie, but writes the plot is convoluted, noting that the film struggles to maintain suspense and the twists become tiresome. Overall, it’s a visually appealing but narratively weak experience.
• IMDb: “Viewers on IMDb show mixed opinions, focusing on a good chemistry between the leads but faulting implausible plot twists and weak character development. The sex scenes are mentioned frequently, both praised and criticized for their execution.

Audience Reactions

The chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas is sizzling and captivating, making their scenes together the highlight.: Most viewers agree that the film is visually appealing due to its stars and location but falls short with a confusing and over-the-top plot.

The steamy scenes are memorable, but the story gets lost in implausible twists and turns.: Many appreciate the effort to create an erotic thriller but find the execution lacking in suspense and character depth.

Overall Consensus: Original Sin is a visually appealing but ultimately flawed erotic thriller with strong chemistry between the leads, but a convoluted plot that fails to deliver on its promise.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the novel ‘Waltz into Darkness’ by Cornell Woolrich, who also wrote the story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’.”
• “Reportedly, the sex scene between Luis and Julia was originally 20 minutes long but was heavily edited before being put into film, due to original scene being too much like soft-core porn.”
• “The plantation house used in the film was a real, albeit abandoned, sugar cane plantation manor.”

🖥️ How to Watch Original Sin?

As of October 2024, “Original Sin” is available for purchase or rental on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming options as availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Original Sin, you might like these similar films:

• Body Heat (1981): Features a femme fatale who manipulates a man into committing a crime for her benefit, similar to Julia’s deception of Luis.
• Waltz Into Darkness (2001): Directly adapted from the same Cornell Woolrich novel; however, this version stars a predominantly French cast.
• Basic Instinct (1992): An erotic thriller with twists and turns, featuring a captivating and manipulative female character.
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999): Features themes of identity theft, deception, and obsession with a dark, suspenseful tone, that would be appealing to fans.

🛒 Original Sin Related Products

• Antonio Banderas Perfumes – The Icon Eau de Parfum: Capture the allure of the movie’s leading man with Antonio Banderas’s signature scent. A modern and sophisticated fragrance for those who choose to be a true icon.
• Angelina Jolie: A Biography: Explore the life and career of Angelina Jolie, from her early roles to her humanitarian work. Discover the journey of one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic stars.
• The Essential Gloria Estefan: This album features Gloria Estefan’s greatest hits, including ‘You Can’t Walk Away from Love’ from the Original Sin soundtrack. Enjoy the iconic vocals of a musical legend.
• The Films of Angelina Jolie: A Cinematic Journey: Explore the range of Angelina Jolie’s films and the impact she’s had on cinema. From action-packed roles to dramatic performances, this book explores her full cinematic journey.

🎧 Soundtrack

Original Sin features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “You Can’t Walk Away from Love” – performed by Gloria Estefan
• “Original Sin Score” – performed by Terence Blanchard

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Original Sin: Angelina Jolie Exclusive Interview | ScreenSlam

Want to hear Angelina Jolie talk about her sultry role in ‘Original Sin’? She dives into the complexities of her character and what drew her to the script. I found her insights super fascinating, and I bet you will too!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2Y_G3dH5LOE

✨ Rate