A fountain worth visiting

Rating: 10/10 (27 August 2007)

It took filmmaker Darren Aronofsky six years to follow up his ferociously brilliant tour de force, Requiem for a Dream, so anticipation for The Fountain was justifiably stratospheric. Internet sites were abuzz with fanboys salivating over the snazzy visuals from the film's promotional material, which is to be expected from the man who brought us the trailblazing editing technique of his previous films. But these sites were also rife with speculation about the film's story itself. Was it a metaphysical exploration of a man's self-discovery? Or was it a time-spanning journey through different historical epochs while attempting to solve a religious riddle? Whatever your interpretation of the film's deliberately ambiguous trailer, there was no denying you were in for a mindblowing ride. So you can imagine the disappointment of critics and filmgoers alike when the movie turned out to be exactly that -- an obfuscated look at life and death which asks more questions than it answers. The Fountain, however, unlike Aronofsky's previous relatively straightforward films, demands to be reviewed in order to be appreciated. Just like the tree of life guarding the titular fountain of youth, the movie grows and evolves with each viewing, as if taunting you with the prospect of ultimate enlightenment which you suspect will never arrive. Mixing together the trippy experience of Kubrick's 2001 with the cryptic philosophical pretensions of Zardoz, The Fountain simmers forth as a steaming plate of meditative reflections with very little in the way of a narrative obstruction. You will marvel at the film's pensive visuals, you will admire the artistry of the film's lead actors (Jackman & Weisz in brilliant form), and you will be encapsulated by the majesty of Clint Mansell's evocative score. This fountain is well worth the visit.