The Fountain Movie Review
Admittedly, I am not as enamored with Darren Aronofsky as the cult that worships him is, but that being said the man is something to behold. His previous works Pi and Requiem for a Dream are not only quality, but inspire continuous debate on message boards all across the internet. The Fountain may be a little harder to get next to, but what is true for his other films is no less true here.
The story follows three different versions of Dr. Tom Creo (Hugh Jackman) in what are possibly three different time periods. The first chronologically is that of Tomas as a conquistador doing what he can for his beloved Queen Isabella (Rachel Weisz), who is also Tom’s wife Izzi in the modern incarnation. Isabella is under siege by forces within her own country and has sent Tomas of to the new world in order to find the Tree of Life. Currently, Dr. Tomas is a researcher searching for a cure to the cancer his wife Izzi is suffering from. He has to sacrifice what little remaining time he has with her in order to find a cure before it’s too late. In what appears to be the distant future we have Tom traveling through space with a tree in order to get to a dying star. Of course, with all the shots of him in the lotus position, his third eye and the fact that he travels in a bubble it all could be just some sort of astral projection. Or both.
Aronofsky has created something that truly is akin to Stanley Kubrik’s 2001. There’s so much philosophy wrapped up in science fiction that the comparison begs to be mentioned. Like 2001, I also think that The Fountain will be appreciated more and more on subsequent viewings. Many have dismissed this film as a treacle-y musing on enduring love, but not only is it more than that, the direction alone is worth a second glance. Aronofsky’s almost sepia tone to the film and his refusal to use typical CGI effects, but instead relying on micro-photography of chemical reactions lend an almost a timeless feel to the film
The Fountain is definitely up to the viewer to take away what they will from it, but it would be impossible for me to conduct this review properly without at least expressing what The Fountain said to me. Essentially this is a story about man’s fear of his inevitable demise as it is a transcendent romance. Tommy is struggling in the present with his wife dying of cancer and vain and somewhat selfish attempt to keep her alive. She has made her peace, but Tommy wants to keep her. Meanwhile Tommy’s struggle to find a cure is told through him as a conquistador unsuccessfully trying to save his queen from her own problems. The scenes in the future are basically a representation of Tommy’s own guilt about having wasted what time he did have with Izzi. It also has a lot to say about how no matter how advanced we become, even spiritually there is no real enlightenment until death.
Look, there are going to be a lot of people who simply just can’t get into to this movie, which is fine. Personally, I’m not that big a fan of any Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but the rest of the world disagrees with me there. Ultimately for those that are not only able to sit through The Fountain, but enjoy unraveling it there will be a devoted following with you. I don’t know if I’m in that group but I definitely like it and the simple truth at its core: Love the one you’re with, because no one is promised tomorrow.
The Grade
- Story: A-
- Acting: B
- Visuals: A
- Originality: A
- Enjoyability: B+
- Overall: A-
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