The Fountain Is Truly A Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 2006)

Pi was very deep. With twists and turns and a very interesting message about spirituality, organized religion and the inner workings of the human mind. Shot intensely and with the flair of an artist, it was great.
Requiem For A Dream descended us into the pure nightmare of addiction in all its forms. Drugs, love, attention. Aronofsky's vision highlighted many things wrong with our instant gratification society but with a visually innovative style that was unprecedented. His use of editing and visual/story suspense are unmatched. I remember sitting in the theater when this film ended and never before seeing an entire audience not move. Stunned and what they had just witnessed then rise up, one by one disoriented and moved, exiting the screening room. That is the power only a true artist wields.
Now, with the Fountain, Aronofsky's progression as a filmmaker and as an artist have taken the next evolutionary step. This film has too many layers to fully digest with simply one viewing. From the first few frames down to the last few, you're imagination and intellect are engaged and running at top speed to keep up with his constant in-references, visual clues and allegory. This work is simply a masterpiece. A true film fan's thanksgiving feast fusing the concepts of pure love, spiritual folklore, life & death, science and suspense and the very nature of creation. It will hopefully take me another two screenings to fully comprehend everything I saw last night but I haven't looked forward to re-watching a film as much since The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects.
His use of color, editing, audio cues and dynamic performances elevate this tale from the story of one man's undying love for his dying wife into a metaphysical, time-bending metaphor for life itself. Most people won't get this film but I think that's a good thing. It doesn't pander and it doesn't give up one inch of artistic integrity for mass appeal.
It is a true work of art.