The most indescribably brilliant movie in years.

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2007)

This is probably the most difficult film to review ever. The Fountain isn't going to sound like much if I give you just a brief plot synopsis. But I'll give it a go. Tom Creo, a brilliant Doctor, is searching for a cure for cancer. His wife Izzy is dying and his research on Monkeys only seems to mysteriously reverse the ageing process. The secret ingredient to his new medicine is taken from a magic tree in South America. The tree of life, or the fountain of youth. Whatever you want to call it. As Izzy slips away, Tom becomes intrigued with her unfinished novel The Fountain. It turns out that the novel is about Tom and Izzy's past lives as a Spanish Queen and Captain in South America hundreds of years ago. And the only way Tom can finish the book is if he stays around for the future, when he can literally take the long-dead Izzy into the heavens.
Phew! That sounds disconcertingly strange, but trust me it's an amazing experience. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz are brilliant, delivering multi-layered performances. The dialogue avoids soap opera clichés of dying young and instead is filled with many philosophic double meanings and a lot of undeclared emotions. I could go on for ages about how good it all is from the direction, gorgeous cinematography, beautiful score, flawless storytelling etc. But I think you get the point already.
What The Fountain mostly resembles is the most beautiful, otherworldly dream you've ever had but can barely remember. It's a hypnotic movie filled with moments that will stay with you forever. Just when you think the film has given you all that it has to offer it surprises you with more and more amazing revelations.
To deny yourself a movie like this would be a heinous act. There's just so much about it I can rave on about. But I won't. Go see for yourself.