Flawed Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 2006)

"The Fountain" is unlike any other film ever made. When a director takes this many chances, he is going to alienate a lot of people. But if you want to see something original, this is the film to see.
If you have seen the other films of Darren Aronofsky, you know he never does anything halfway. This is a film of excesses and vision. If the story makes any sense at all, it is a bonus. If "The Fountain" is actually coherent, you will need to use your imagination.
In some ways, this is Aronofsky's most assessable film because it is about undying love. On the other hand, it is not linear and could lose a lot of people. The ending is open to interpretation and a lot of people are just not going to get it.
Performances and photography are great. Visually it reminds me of the David Lynch version of "Dune." The music was okay but could have been better. The film would have been better if they had gotten Phillip Glass.
I question the studio's decision to release this in wide release during the Fall holiday season. This is clearly not a movie for the masses. This film really belongs in the art houses.
If you like experimental cinema, you are likely to embrace "The Fountain." If you need movies to explain everything at the end, you should probably skip it.