The Fountain Review

Mind? Blown.

Verdict? 100% Undecided. The jury is out. The ideas are out. The judgements must wait.

I honestly have never, in my life, been so perplexed by a film before. Is it brilliant? Is it simply myopic? Well, jeez, if there's ever a film who strives to be more than it is...

I simply can't tell if the film is brilliant but stupid (ala The Cell) or if its brilliant and people will simply miss out on its brilliance (ala Magnolia).

There's something really tangible and lovable about a film that you would never, under any circumstances, recommend to anyone (and I mean never). But at the same time, you secretly wish they would get it and that you really want them to go, but you don't want to be responsible if they think it's shit.

And man, that's a dangerous line indeed.

The Fountain is about stories within stories, about love and life and forever and death and eternity and how bald men eat tree bark to stay alive. Or something.

It just doesn't make any sense!

But maybe that's the point?

As I mentioned last week, I'm a very empathetic person. I have a hard time watching others tearing up without tearing up myself. But as much as I wanted to care about Hugh Jackman and his dying love, and no matter how brilliant it seemed during the 'cool parts', I can't imagine enjoying the first half of this flick, nor being affected the characters at pretty much any point.

It did have what I would call an "Aronofsky Moment" (there were many in Requiem for a Dream, and the "drill scene" in Pi), where the film truly inspired and uplifted me. For about ten seconds.

Then it was all stars and nebula goodness. Somewhere in there is a brilliant flick. I just don't think Darren made it this time.

Requiem For A Dream made me want to yell from the rooftops about how brilliant it was, how affecting it was, how powerful a film can truly be. That movie is just amazing.

This film shows me how interesting philosophical questions can be, but also how bad their answers can be.

With that said, I would be lying if I said I didn't want to see it again, a feeling I've not had in a movie theater in many, many years. I'd actually pay money to see this on the big screen again.

So if that's a recommendation, take it as one. But don't recommend this flick to anybody--you just have to be willing to go "out there" to enjoy it.

The battle's on the ground
Laying low again, High on the sound