The Road to Awe

Rating: 6/10 (25 November 2006)

Greetings again from the darkness. Interesting, open to interpretation film from the brilliant mind of writer/director Darren Aronofsky. The film spans over 1000 years, but the three stories are presented in a non-linear manner so as to encourage thought and discussion. The whole topic of everlasting life or death as a disease could and has filled numerous research papers. Mr. Aronofsky brings his unique visual element to the topics.
The two leads are played well enough by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Jackman's look spans that of Mick Fleetwood as a conquistador, TV's Dr. House in the present, and the zen of David Carradine in the future. Regardless of the era, he spends the entire film extremely agitated with a constant frown. Weisz, on the other hand, makes a lovely queen, a perky dying lady and sickly tree. Supporting help is provided by Ellen Burstyn (making up for her horrible turn in "The Wicker Man") and the powerful Stephen McHattie as The Inquistor.
Each story has a frenetic pace and the climax of Jackman discovering "The Fountain" is pretty well done. This one doesn't score higher due to lack of connection to the two main characters in any period of time. We just aren't really given any reason to care.
Although not in the class of "PI" and certainly not the excellence of "Requiem for a Dream", Mr. Aronofsky delivers another thought provoking visual feast that will be loved by many and hated by some.