You do. You will.

[thehefner]

THE FOUNTAIN is not for everyone. Of course it's getting panned by many. Of course many booed it at the Venice film festival. And why? I'm tempted to say, as my mother said, "they just don't get it," but that feels smug and condescending. I do feel that many will see it as pretentious, ponderous, convoluted, or just plain too slow. I don't think I'll even try to argue with these people. I don't even want to read the negative reviews for this movie.

This film was absolutely beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Halfway into the movie I realized that this film would be haunting my thoughts for days to come. Halfway into the movie, I completely forget that I had to pee like hell, I was just that engrossed into it.

If I had to try to describe this movie, to give someone an idea of what to expect, I'd simply say, "2001: A Space Odyssey." It's a film that will offer little explicit explanation, leaving the viewer to piece it all together, but at the same time, don't break your brain trying to follow it. You just need to sit back and let it... unfold... before your eyes.

It seems that every thing I see Hugh Jackman in next impresses me more and more with his abilities as an actor. I think he will be the most deserving person of an Oscar this year who won't even be nominated. Brad Pitt, who was originally attached to the film alongside Cate Blanchett, could not have done better. I want to see him as Harvey Dent now more than ever.

That said, I would have preferred seeing Cate in this film rather than Rachel Weisz. Not that she was bad at all, no, but Blanchett has a luminescence that would have served this role beautifully. And right now, the only problem I had with the film was Weisz's American accent. I accredit her delivery of simple lines like "I'm scared" and "My conquistador" for my only wince-inducing experiences in the film. But then, I think if anyone has a problem with this movie, her accent will be the least of their complaints.

I'm just glad I saw this with someone else, and particularly with my mother. She's a nurse, someone who's had a lot of experience with death, with people dying and their families. With those who are ready to accept it and those who are not. With those who are prepared to take something to the next inevitable level and those obsessed with fighting change. With how an obsession for someone else can be purely selfish, and how that obsession, that quest, can utterly consume you.

This was a true labor of love on the part of Darren Aronofsky. A couple years ago, when it seemed the movie might not get made, he got together with DC Comics and adapted it as a graphic novel, telling a different perspective on the same story. I've read it before, but now methinks I must buy it tomorrow.

I don't praise this film lightly. There are not many movies I would call beautiful. AKIRA KUROSAWA'S DREAMS, GATTACA, maybe THE STRAIGHT STORY might fit among them, but not many. There are very few people to whom I'd recommend THE FOUNTAIN. For any of a number of reasons, it just won't work for perhaps the majority. But speaking from a purely personal standpoint, I found this absolutely beautiful.

Comments

[interdisciple.livejournal.com]

i agree 100%. amazing film, and a solid review here to match. bravo to aronofsky, and good on hef for feeling his vision!

each of aronofsky's films is quite different from his last, yet all are, in my eyes, brilliant in so many respects. i was afraid the nonlinear plot structure and unconventional approach to narrative and theme alike would drive folks batty. glad to hear it didn't and that it can be appreciated on its own terms.

interesting to hear blanchett was considered, but honestly, if he'd done a luminescent blanchett, it'd look too much like an LOTR bite-off, i think. so i really like his choices here, and as you and ty already pointed out, jackman's phenomenal in this role. equally interesting to hear pitt was considered for the role. didn't know that and am now considering the variations. i think i still prefer jackman. in fact, in the middle of the film, i whispered to ty that he'd get an oscar nomination for this one. if he doesn't (do we know this for sure already?), he'll defo be getting robbed.

a quick aside, now that i've indulged the concepts: not to open up a philosophical debate on what does or does not constitute a "spoiler", but what's considered cut-tag worthy? i say this for cora or others who haven't seen the film yet but plan to, b/c while you don't give away any plot points, a conceptual outline is indeed painted, and maybe it's just me, as i like to go into viewings with as little info as possible, but if i saw this uncut, i'd be too tempted NOT to read it, whereas if i saw it under a cut, it'd be easier to resist... does that make any sense? not that i expect anyone to share my wacky perspective or process, so pardon this digression...

in any case, i'm pleasantly surprised to hear that heffie likes it! this one's definitely a buy-on-DVD, a keeper for the archives...

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Anyone who uses "beautiful" and "Gattaca" in the same paragraph while trying to evoke the feel of a movie has my interest. I will see The Fountain.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Here, definitely give this a read:

http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1557390_1_0_,00.html

Part of why I wanted to see this movie is because I've been following on and off its history. And yeah, I think you have a point with the LOTR knockoff, but dash it all, it's Cate! I just love her.

Yeah, they weren't considered. They HAD THE ROLES. LOCKED. I'd still have loved to have seen Cate, blast the Elfin comparisons, but Jackman absolutely ruled here. I like Pitt, I think he's a great actor, but he could not have done it better.

Y'know, I frankly don't know what's spoiler worthy here. I honestly don't! We can talk about the film all we want, but frankly, I just don't know if anyone else will know what the hell we're talking about!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if mentioning that film at the end would help of hurt my review here. I just remember being absolutely moved by GATTACA, but the fact that it's so rarely mentioned anywhere else today makes me wonder if maybe I wasn't mistaken or something. I so need to show that film to somebody else.

[fishymcb.livejournal.com]

And now for Kevin's completely tasteless take on The Fountain, in re: Rachel Weisz:

She probably got the part because she was doing the director.

No, really, she was! Possibly still is. They have a baby and everything.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

And a bastard to boot!

But hey, if you got a hot, talented actress on hand anyway, might as well use her in your dream project, says I. Just as long as it doesn't get to such aggravatingly predictable levels of Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter (she's gonna be SWEENEY TODD? Nooo, who woulda guessed that?)

[fishymcb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yikes. Thank God he didn't have her around for the first Batman film.

[kosher-jenny.livejournal.com]

For serious. What's the last non-Burton movie HBC has been in anyway? Of course, if Rachel Weisz was my baby mama I'd give her every role her heart desired. I have such a crush on her.

[kosher-jenny.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I want Jackman to play Dent so much now after seeing him in The Prestige. The man can go from utterly charming to really creepy or even outright frightening in a heartbeat, which would make him perfect for Two-Face IMO. It doesn't look like he's in the running for the role according to the rumor-mill, but then again Heath Ledger as the Joker was somewhat out of the blue, so maybe there's still hope.

I want to see the Fountain, but I don't think I'll be able to see it until either next month or until it comes out on DVD. I still haven't seen Casino Royale yet, (though hopefully I can go tonight) plus some other movies on my list.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I know!! Ever since seeing The Prestige, I can't think of anyone else who could possibly do it better. And I still cannot possibly see Heath Ledger, but I am anxious to see the movie nonetheless.

Aye, THE FOUNTAIN and CASINO ROYALE are both excellent films, but the former is just astounding. That's the more important one to see by far, because it's the more controversial and more likely to flop.

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Not mistaken. Beautiful, gorgeous movie.

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

"THE FOUNTAIN is not for everyone. Of course it's getting panned by many. Of course many booed it at the Venice film festival. And why? I'm tempted to say, as my mother said, "they just don't get it," but that feels smug and condescending. I do feel that many will see it as pretentious, ponderous, convoluted, or just plain too slow. I don't think I'll even try to argue with these people. I don't even want to read the negative reviews for this movie."

I felt the same way when I saw The Village. It's either something you get into or you really, really don't.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I *still* don't know what to think about that film.

I personally adore UNBREAKABLE, but that's even less for everybody than THE FOUNTAIN is!

[plasticity.livejournal.com]

exactly what I was going to say. and then the score as the current music. "aha," say I, interest piqued, "perhaps I should investigate this movie further."

[pondering-duck.livejournal.com]

Wow, I found someone else like me.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

You mean you felt the same way about it?