The Fountain

Oh, man! I was really looking forward to this film, but it didn’t really grab me. I don’t know, perhaps I watched it in the wrong frame of mind, or I misunderstood it. Either way, I got quite bored and all those gorgeous images and shots felt a bit like a body without a soul. Aronofsky has a strange style, I liked Requiem for a Dream me because of its depiction of harsh reality, but The Fountain left me completely cold. Hopefully, you won’t be too mad at me, perhaps I’ll get the magic of this film in a second screening. (2012-03-01)

Compared to Mother!, I didn't like The Fountain that much, but it is still an interesting and unconventional film that intrigues, but doesn't really blow your balls off. A great Hugh Jackman and a beautiful Rachel Weisz, biblical references, great scenes with the Mayas, nice imagery and decent art, but I found it a bit drawn out even at 90 minutes. It's not my genre, so a neutral three stars radiates rather satisfaction. 65% (2017-11-08)

From the very first minute, Aronofsky bombards the viewer with an audiovisual whirlwind (a proven collaboration with cinematographer Matthew Libattique) that the senses are unable to take it all in at first. Searching for a cure for the disease called death is an incredibly gripping (the plot), at once cathartic (the form) and especially perfectly intimate (the partnership) spectacle that demands multiple viewings to be fully absorbed. A surreally powerful piece of cinema that manages to grab you by the emotional strings with its mysterious medievalism, the mystical relationship between man and the tree of life, and the dull reality of today. A must for all cynics who see contemporary cinema as too pale. (2007-04-15)

The Fountain is a look at three parallel fates that intertwine and diverge, all of which ultimately result in the final recognition and discovery of the truth. Darren Aronofsky was, is, and will continue to be an expert on the intricacies of cinematic plot, and The Fountain is another prime example. All three stories intertwine so strongly and yet so easily that sometimes you don't notice where you are at first. There are a number of issues being dealt with here, with the question of life and death standing out above the rest. In terms of direction, this film is quite solidly handled, and I must also single out the great cinematography (which is characteristically strange for Aronofsky's films) and virtually all the visuals, from the effects to the editing to the production design. And last but not least, the likeable leading couple of Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, who had great chemistry. In short, a film that will probably ring true in different ways for each of us at the end, but in terms of quality, it's an above average affair. (2011-04-30)

A visually stunning spectacle with a perfect music score. The Fountain is a beautiful film whose main idea is not hard to grasp, but if I want to fully understand the story itself, I will have to watch it at least once more. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz (who here looks almost supernaturally beautiful) deliver excellent performances, as does Aronofsky in the director’s chair. I’m going to get Pi and Requiem for a Dream… (2008-09-05)