Whatever happened to character, story, and pacing?

Rating: 1/10 (25 November 2006)

I have never in my life been so disappointed in a movie. This was a 96 minute set piece for beautifully constructed images that contrast with the tight closeups of people whispering through tears as they lament, with no emotion, about life, eternity and love. Love? I'm sorry, but there is no reason for me to believe that these two even belong together. He's a jerk with his own agenda, she wants him to finish her awful book about a Conquistador who has to fight for a Queen (Jackman and Weisz play triple roles, sort of) in the most sleep-inducing segments of the movie. I find it very hard to believe that this was a movie 6 years in the making. When i saw Requiem For a Dream, the detached emotion of the dialogue added to the intensity of the story. Maybe people don't really talk that way, but it all fit together to make you feel almost crazy - the music, the crazy pacing and unbelievable cinematography - it really took you on a ride. But I felt like a large part of Requiem was grounded in reality, if a heightened vision of it. The Fountain has minor characters that speak as if they've just been given their lines, struggling to remember, without giving any depth of emotion to the dialogue. It has a story that is so pretentious, it had me laughing when everyone in the audience was holding their breath. The worst part is that people are falling for it. I've never in my life wanted so badly to walk out of a movie - I've never, ever been so disinterested in a movie, like I was with the Fountain. I wish someone had warned me - do something else with your time, please. I feel so cheated - it's going to be a while before I see a movie in theatres again.