The Fountain (2006)

If pushed to state a favourite director, I would have to say Darren Arronofsky. Black Swan is very high up on my top films ever and Requiem for a Dream is unarguably incredible. I haven’t seen The Wrestler yet. Director aside it doesn’t really seem something I’ll like and I don’t like Mickey Rourke’s face. Pi I feel might be a bit difficult, and so I’m putting it off. Noah, though I am looking forward to immensely, but unfortunately it’s not released until next year. The Fountain therefore offered the logical next foray into Arronofsky’s work.

Set at three different points in time it follows a couple in their search for the tree of life. Merging Myan legend with bible stories and science fiction the separate stories link together frequently to give continuity to what otherwise could be a bitty film.

The original intention was apparently for the film to star Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. While Blanchett would of course been fantastic, I think the eventual casting of Rachel Weisz is perfect. Hugh Jackman too was cast well and took on a role very dissimilar to anything I have previously seen him in. A combination of period costume and space travel is a long way from Wolverine. He does it very well though and managed to make me forget that it was him, which is impressive with three roles to play.

I’m still not entirely sure whether I liked this film as a whole piece. It took me a little time to get into, and perhaps it was a little too surreal in places. There were also some aspects which I didn’t feel I understood sufficiently to appreciate their full meaning.  There were many points however when I was completely bowled over and fully involved in and loving everything I was watching. Throughout The Fountain grabbed my emotions and did with them what it wanted which, when it comes down to it, is all I’m really looking for in a film.  I’m left with the overall feeling that I did like it, although I think that that will be cemented with a second viewing, this time more prepared for what I’m about to watch.