Three cons in the fountain

Rating: Null/10 (2 January 2007)

(Watched in Toronto)
My summary line, like the movie itself, is a little contrived. There are three stories is "The fountain" and not all of them are so contrived as to be called "con". The main story about scientist Tom's (Hugh Jackman) desperate research against a ticking clock to find a cure for wife Izzi's (Rachel Weisz) brain tumour is just fine. A little far-fetched is a tale during the Spanish Inquisition 500 years ago, of loyal Thomas (Jackman) going into Maya territory in search of a elixir, at the bidding of Queen Isabel (Weize). But what tops it all - a look 500 years in the future, of a bald guy (Jackman) alternating between tapping on a keyboard, kissing a magical tree and doing what looks like Tai-chi (but really isn't), all this in the middle of a whirl nebula - verges on ridiculous.
Amalgamating three stories based on some pseudo metaphysical link falls flat on its face and hurts rather than helps the central story. I'll never understand where movie makers get the idea that they can make audience into philosophers with 2 hours of pseudo profound messages. If they want to do fantasy, they better have the elegance of Tolkien. If they want to do sci-fi, they better have the authenticity and logic of Asimov. A smorgasbord that is neither here nor there does not a good movie make.
"The fountain" has some good star power which unfortunately is somewhat wasted. Jackman, who may not be Oscar material yet but certainly has a good screen presence, does little more than convulse with deep anguish. Most recent Oscar best supporting actress Weize has still less, being charged with the responsibility of looking ethereally beautiful and vulnerable. Even sadder to see is veteran Ellen Burstyn walking around like a body without a soul.