The Fountain (2006)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writers (WGA):

Darren Aronofsky (screenplay)
Darren Aronofsky (story) ...

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

What If You Could Live Forever?

Plot:

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.

Plot Keywords:

Tree | Love | Space | Queen | Future

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Hugh Jackman	...	Tomas / Tommy / Tom Creo
Rachel Weisz	...	Isabel / Izzi Creo
Ellen Burstyn	...	Dr. Lillian Guzetti
Mark Margolis	...	Father Avila
Stephen McHattie	...	Grand Inquisitor Silecio
Fernando Hernandez	...	Lord of Xibalba
Cliff Curtis	...	Captain Ariel
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Antonio
Donna Murphy	...	Betty
Ethan Suplee	...	Manny
Richard McMillan	...	Henry
Lorne Brass	...	Dr. Alan Lipper
Abraham Aronofsky	...	Lab Technician
Renee Asofsky	...	Lab Technician
Anish Majumdar	...	Dr. Spencer

Also Known As:

The Last Man (USA) (original script title)
La fuente de la vida (Argentina) (DVD title) (Mexico) (Peru) (Spain) [es]
Фонтан (Russia) [ru]
Allikas (Estonia) [et]
Estetyczna fontanna (Poland) (DVD title) [pl]
Fontána (Czech Republic) [cs]
Fontana zivota (Croatia) [hr]
Fonte da Vida (Brazil) (festival title) [pt]
I pigi tis zois (Greece) [el]
Kaynak (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
L'albero della vita (Italy) [it]
La fontaine (Canada: French title) [fr]
O Último Capítulo (Portugal) [pt]
The Fountain (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violent action, some sensuality and language. (edited for re-rating; originally R)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Maya

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 (original rating) | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | UK:12A (edited for re-rating) | USA:R (original rating) | Singapore:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-13 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate #41776) | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Cité du Cinéma, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Warner Bros refused to do a Director's Commentary for the DVD release, so Darren Aronofsky recorded one in his living room, and released it on his web site.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The map used by the conquistadors to find the Tree of Life is erroneous. The priest says the three points which form an equilateral triangle on the map are Chichen Itza, Yaxchilan, and Tikal. However in reality, the three Mayan sites form an obtuse triangle, with Chichen Itza been the northern-most and the eastern-most point.

Quotes:

Grand Inquisitor Silecio: Our bodies are prisons for our souls. Our skin and blood, the iron bars of confinement. But fear not. All flesh decays. Death turns all to ash. And thus, death frees every soul.

Movie Connections:

References Ikiru (1952)

Absolutely Fantastic

Fantastic in every sense. This film is indeed poetry, and a beautiful testament to love and the cycle of life, and the impermanence of death. Wow. The script is tight, and the non-linear presentation works very well. The scene compositions were exquisite. The score enhanced without being overbearing, which is so often the case in contemporary film.

The acting is absolutely superb, but then it's got Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. I can't imagine Brad Pitt doing any sort of justice to this film. Darren Aronofsky lucked out in the long run by getting someone who has the range to portray the vast emotions required for Tomas/Tommy/Tom. Weisz has the depth for regal intrigue and spirited grace. Their chemistry makes their stories even more entrancing.

This film does require a thinking brain to be appreciated.