Behold! ... The Road To Awe

Rating: 10/10 (2 August 2008)

How does a talented filmmaker like Aronofsky take simple themes, such as the fragile nature of life and death, and turn them into one of the most meaningful films in history? Just watch The Fountain and you will understand. In this one piece of art, Aronofsky has challenged himself, as well as the viewers, to see a film as more than just entertainment. The Fountain is an experience, a leap into the depths of imagination that will leave you utterly speechless.
Of course, a film like this is not without its critics. The Fountain is not for everyone. But I say heed the challenge. Try not to look for the realism and instead immerse yourself in an alternate world, one that struggles to reconcile the advantages and disadvantages of immortality.
For me personally, The Fountain is a milestone. It was the first film (and only) that left me utterly speechless as the end credits rolled. It took me a few minutes to snap out of the trance of what I had witnessed. Now, watching The Fountain is almost a religious experience. I ignore everything else and dive headfirst into Aronofsky's stunning vision.
This film has so many positive aspects that it would take forever to name them all. But there are highlights that cannot be ignored. For one, the two lead actors give stellar performances. I have seen The Constant Gardener, but Rachel Weisz shined even brighter in The Fountain. She is strong, both as the queen and as the ailing writer. Then you have Hugh Jackman. He may forever be typecast as a tough-guy, pseudo-Wolverine, but he gives the best performance of his career in The Fountain. The movie feeds off his energy, which from the first scene is genuine and intense. The thought that these roles were meant for Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchette makes me so very happy that the first attempt was a failure. They would never have been able to do what Weisz and Jackman accomplished.
This film gets compared to 2001: A Space Odyssey quite a bit, namely the futuristic elements. But I see this film as entirely different. The visuals are simple, and yet incredibly poignant. The atmosphere of the film is very dark, but there are so many moments of brightness. It is indeed a film of contrasts, as well as parallels.
Above all, this film succeeds thanks to the unprecedented score by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet. Mansell has worked well with Aronofsky before on Requiem For A Dream, but this score is something special. It adds to the atmosphere of the film, as well as highlights the power of the message.
When this film first came out, I was worried that the effect would be temporary. It was a special movie, but how long would it hold up? It has almost been two years, and The Fountain remains one of the most powerful and disarming films of the last 20 years. It is truly an experience, not simply a film. And though it may draw on themes that have been examined time and again, the uniqueness and effect of The Fountain cannot be ignored. It is a road to awe.