Review of the 2006 film 'The Fountain'

The Fountain is one of the prettiest films I have ever seen. For pure visual spectacle, it is very much worth watching. With the soundtrack pushed up to full volume through the most awesome speakers we could get our hands on, it was an audio-visual masterpiece. Aside from this, however, there is also an atmospheric plot and excellent acting.

When I was first told about The Fountain, my friend described it as an extremely pretty film about death. This is a fairly accurate, but shallow, description of the main atmosphere. Yes, the film is about death and the fragility of existence, but it is also about the joy and pain of love. It is difficult to explain the depths of these themes without spoiling all of the plot, but throughout those who fear death walk hand in hand with those who are willing to accept it, and for all of them love of one kind or another is the driving motivation.

There are three seemingly parallel story-lines, each tracing a main character searching for immortality of one description or another. There is the past storyline, where a conquistador is going in search of the tree of life. In the modern-day storyline, the lead character is searching for a cure to cancer when he unwittingly stumbles across a cure for ageing. And then there is the future storyline where a space traveller journeys through space with the tree of life.

The messages in this film are far from heavy-handed, and to a tremendous extent you are allowed to draw your own conclusions about what the film is about; to the point that I have come across at least three different, completely plausible possibilities for how the three plotlines interlink. As such, I will let you draw your own conclusions about this, and instead focus on the aspects of this film that are easier to pin down and describe.

I have already mentioned that this film is visually fantastic; from the scenes set around a tree in outer space, to the more mundane image of a man working late in his office, this film is a cinematic masterpiece. Every scene is beautiful in its own way, and blends perfectly with the soundtrack. The soundtrack is a masterwork on its own, and it's probably worth watching the film twice, the second time with your eyes closed, because the music (by Clint Mansell) is stunningly composed and incredibly atmospheric.

Then there is the acting, and Hugh Jackman does a fantastic job in all of his three roles. Rachel Weisz, too, provides an admirable performance. The onscreen chemistry between the characters, too, is absolutely believable, especially in the modern-day storyline, and it makes the film that much more immersive.

The Fountain is a brilliant film that gives you a lot to think about, and three weeks after the occasion I actually watched it, I can think of little there to criticise. It is not in any way a fast paced action movie, and if you are incredibly keen that all of your plot points should be meticulously wrapped up at the end, the you might want to sit this one out. However, if like me you like all sorts of different movies, then watch the Fountain. Even if you don't 'get it', it is beautiful. And if you do understand and think about the themes that are driving through the film, then you will enjoy it on whole new levels. Even now, every time I think about this film, I get the warm feeling that I watched something very special and different from almost any other film I can think of.