The Fountain - B

Coming soon to DVD.

This film explores 3 different time periods in the existence of Hugh Jackman's character. In one, he is a conquistador seeking eternal life on behalf of Isabel, queen of Spain. In another, set in the present, he is a neurosurgeon obsessed with finding a cure for his wife's (Rachel Weisz)cancer. In the final portrayal, he is alone, floating in the year 2500 in an orb containing a tree.

Director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream) has weaved an extremely dense and emotional tale focusing on questions of life, death, the afterlife and love. His use of light, particularly soft yellow light, provides a thematic element that is consistent throughout each story. He focuses the camera so tightly on the actors faces that it leaves you (pleasantly) distressed to see the context of the scene. The score features orchestral and industrial rock fusion, and is the best of the year (maybe tied with Departed, but all of this is original, so it gets the edge).

The directorial elements are all there, as would be expected, but ultimately the story needed probably 2 more hours to be complete. I am hoping the DVD release includes a director's cut and commentary track. A couple of interesting notes: Brad Pitt was originally set to play the Hugh Jackman role, but bailed as the sets were being built in Australia and Rachel Weisz is Darren Aronofsky's wife.

This is a movie that stays with you after you see it. Needless to say, if you enjoyed "Little Man", you shouldn't bother watching this.

(legal note - a special warranty deed only warrants title during the period of the seller's ownership while a general warranty deed puts the seller on the hook for defending title to its inception).