The Fountain (2006)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob S

  
  "My God, it's full of shit!" But seriously folks - after just one viewing - i'm just .. wow - huh?! Watching the film, I was wildly applauding Aronofsky's superballsy audacious vision while simultaneously cringing at his simplistic sentimentality. 2001 +… More
  "My God, it's full of shit!" But seriously folks - after just one viewing - i'm just .. wow - huh?! Watching the film, I was wildly applauding Aronofsky's superballsy audacious vision while simultaneously cringing at his simplistic sentimentality. 2001 + What the Bleep Do We Know + dimestore romance + any episode of E.R. = wtf? For what it's worth - i thought Hugh Jackman was great - perhaps the only tangible revelation of the film.

• Albert K

  
  "wat" That was my response after the movie ended. But I couldn't help but to be mesmerized by the incredible cinematography. But wow, the plot is extremely confusing. This movie is definitely alike with Donnie Darko, but this movie is more engaging with its follow-up… More
  "wat" That was my response after the movie ended. But I couldn't help but to be mesmerized by the incredible cinematography. But wow, the plot is extremely confusing. This movie is definitely alike with Donnie Darko, but this movie is more engaging with its follow-up to the ending.

• Nathan H

  
  The Fountain is a stunning, beautiful film that looks at death in a new angle: as the beginning of life. Not for everyone, but is a well done film, with amazing direction from Aronofsky. Hugh Jackman shows his talent for more than just action scenes, while Rache Weisz gives her all,… More
  The Fountain is a stunning, beautiful film that looks at death in a new angle: as the beginning of life. Not for everyone, but is a well done film, with amazing direction from Aronofsky. Hugh Jackman shows his talent for more than just action scenes, while Rache Weisz gives her all, as always. Be prepared for some confusion, but also be prepared to be in awe.

• Richard C

  
  I really liked this movie. I thought the part of the story that took place in the present was excellent. Everything else ranged from good to okay. The movie overall was great but I didn't love the movie. I thought the part of the story that took place in the past was good but not… More
  I really liked this movie. I thought the part of the story that took place in the present was excellent. Everything else ranged from good to okay. The movie overall was great but I didn't love the movie. I thought the part of the story that took place in the past was good but not great. There were also some silly and unintentionally funny parts but there kept to a minimum. A great movie but by no means perfect in my opinion. Grade: B+

• Cameron S

  
  A beautiful, well acted and incomprehensible film 'The Fountain' not only leaves you bewildered it also leaves you thinking. Understanding the film isn't the point though, the point is to come up with your own explanation and take what you can from that. Before starting… More
  A beautiful, well acted and incomprehensible film 'The Fountain' not only leaves you bewildered it also leaves you thinking. Understanding the film isn't the point though, the point is to come up with your own explanation and take what you can from that. Before starting I expected a completely different film but overall I was pleased with what I got, even if I did have to Google it after.

• Matthew S

  
  Spanning 1000 years and filled with linking metaphors between the three storylines, this movie is surreal enough that any explanation of the literal story can be refuted. ultimately though it's asking if it is a tragedy, or a story of timeless redemption. Is heaven on earth? This… More
  Spanning 1000 years and filled with linking metaphors between the three storylines, this movie is surreal enough that any explanation of the literal story can be refuted. ultimately though it's asking if it is a tragedy, or a story of timeless redemption. Is heaven on earth? This movie raises a lot of fun questions about who we are, who/what we are from, and of who/what we will become a part.

• Emile T

  
  One can look for the meaning of this piece of art for as long as one wants, it is as simple as that: Aronofsky uses the cinematic medium to put on screen a fable that will someday be appreciated for what it is. A mind-blowing and gorgeous fable, also featuring an epic score from Clint… More
  One can look for the meaning of this piece of art for as long as one wants, it is as simple as that: Aronofsky uses the cinematic medium to put on screen a fable that will someday be appreciated for what it is. A mind-blowing and gorgeous fable, also featuring an epic score from Clint Mansell and a memorable performance from Hugh Jackman.

• Sophie B

  
  Absolutely amazing. At first I was rather confused and couldn't understand what the point was but by the end most things were clear. I like narratives like this with twists and turns. I think it's about life and death and how if people fear death, then it's something to… More
  Absolutely amazing. At first I was rather confused and couldn't understand what the point was but by the end most things were clear. I like narratives like this with twists and turns. I think it's about life and death and how if people fear death, then it's something to be feared. But if you embrace death as a natural part of your life then you can live beyond death and have something different to look forward to. It's very spiritual. I liked the juxtoposition between the past, the (relative) present, and the future showing how religion and spiritualism has been around for a long time and is an important part of many peoples lives. Fantastic performances, especially from Jackman. Brilliant.

• Melvin W

  
  I really like Darren Aronofsky and that was why I was able to overlook a lot of negative reviews and watch The Fountain. Richard Roeper went as far at to say, "This is one of the worst movies of the year." I wouldn't go that far, but it isn't great. I didn't… More
  I really like Darren Aronofsky and that was why I was able to overlook a lot of negative reviews and watch The Fountain. Richard Roeper went as far at to say, "This is one of the worst movies of the year." I wouldn't go that far, but it isn't great. I didn't care for any of the performances, especially Rachael Weisz. Aronofsky is a great director though, and the story is for the most part cool. That isn't to say it's not a little ridiculous because it is. The story jumps from one place in time to another(supposedly). You have troubles grasping the plot just remember that Izzi is writing a book called The Fountain. "It's all done except the last chapter. I want you to help me. Finish it..."

• Lewis C

  
  "Death is a disease. It's like any other. And there's a cure. A cure. And I will find it." I think Darren Aronofsky is great. He brings a sense of art into each movie he makes, no matter how human, small, and individual his stories may be. The Fountain is… More
  "Death is a disease. It's like any other. And there's a cure. A cure. And I will find it." I think Darren Aronofsky is great. He brings a sense of art into each movie he makes, no matter how human, small, and individual his stories may be. The Fountain is different from his other projects, however, because it's almost wholly an art film. It largely leaves conventional storytelling behind and explores love, loss, and fear of mortality through reoccurring images, symbolism, alternating time-lines/realities, and some really fantastic visuals. I have to say that I liked it. It's ambitious and it takes a while to get a handle on, but it captured my interest from the very beginning. There were moments when The Fountain brought to mind a Guillermo del Toro movie, times when it felt like pure Aronofsky, and then scenes that reminded me of nothing I've seen previously. Hugh Jackman gives a commendable, fragmented performance as the three main characters in their three variations of the story. But it's Rachel Weisz who plays the only character in the film that we really get to know a part of, and she's the anchor of the overall story. I gained a healthy respect for both actors, while watching this. On the whole, I found The Fountain to be a worthy experience. There's something lacking, though. I can't say what it is, exactly. The movie felt a little too loosely connected, as if the theme binding it together wasn't tied quite as tightly as it should have been. I predict three different possible reactions to The Fountian. Person A will watch about 15 minutes of it, quickly realize it's not for them, and turn it off. Person B will appreciate what Aronofsky tried to do, but feel that The Fountain is ultimately a flawed effort. Person C will enjoy the movie and want to see it again several times, despite niggling concerns that it's not quite all it had the potential to be. I'm Person C. I loved the cinematography and had a very positive reaction to all the metaphysics and existential themes (which isn't always the case, despite the fact that I was a philosophy major in college). It's not the typical Aronofsky film and it's not his best (The Wrestler) or his most complete (Black Swan), but it's definitely his most ambitious.

• Chris W

  
  I like Darren Aronofsky. His films are just really well made and exude craft. Having liked all the other films of his I've seen, I figured that the inevitable lsump wouldoccur eventually, even though I didn't want it to. There is a lot to like here. It's not quite… More
  I like Darren Aronofsky. His films are just really well made and exude craft. Having liked all the other films of his I've seen, I figured that the inevitable lsump wouldoccur eventually, even though I didn't want it to. There is a lot to like here. It's not quite a bad film, just a deeply flawed one. "Interesting failure" I think is a good way to put it. The concept is cool, but the plotting, script, and execution are where the issues are. Also, it's okay to be a little obscure and make people have to think, but that's not the case here. This is just confusing and scattered. The visuals (and preference for camera tricks and practicals over tons of CGI) are amazing. They're are beautiful, and the camera work is likewise gorgeous. The perfromances are also pretty good, expecially since the leads do double and triple duty. I did like the formal techniques and the use od match cuts and recurring motifs...that's all good, but like I said, the concept and execution are rough. I did find the film engaging, and got something out of it, even if it's really confusing. As I said, this is a failure, but it's interesting, and has merits, so while it isn't quite a real success, there's enough good here to warrant a viewing.

• Conner R

  
  I must've been in the minority, but I thought this was a true masterpiece. The epic nature of the love story is incredible and completely unique. The usage of space and time is like nothing anyone has ever tried to accomplish before. While it is mostly a sci-fi fairy tale, you… More
  I must've been in the minority, but I thought this was a true masterpiece. The epic nature of the love story is incredible and completely unique. The usage of space and time is like nothing anyone has ever tried to accomplish before. While it is mostly a sci-fi fairy tale, you never feel as though each segment doesn't have power in itself. Hugh Jackman gave truly his best performance and Rachel Weisz did a beautiful job as well. While this certainly isolates itself from most traditional hollywood narratives, I think once you break it down it really isn't difficult at all to understand or analyze.

• Sajin P

  
  The main plus-points of the movie were Hugh Jackman & a brilliant soundtrack by Clint Mansell . Although a hard one to digest, I ended up enjoying the movie quite well.

• paul o

  
  With one of the best roles for Hugh Jackman, The Fountain contains a plot that not only questions one's mind but also make the viewer wonder about the interpretation of certain scenes. Not one of the gruesome Aronofsky movies but worth the viewing if you have time.

• Aditya G

  
  Like his first full-length film "Pi", Darren Aronofsky's under-acknowledged masterpiece, "The Fountain", can be easily dismissed as pointless and pretentious after an initial viewing by the less patient. But a more seasoned cinema lover will at least certainly… More
  Like his first full-length film "Pi", Darren Aronofsky's under-acknowledged masterpiece, "The Fountain", can be easily dismissed as pointless and pretentious after an initial viewing by the less patient. But a more seasoned cinema lover will at least certainly give it a second chance or more even if he/she ultimately does not end up thinking much of it. It is difficult to put down a plot synopsis for this visually dazzling film in words without giving most of the story away. Aronofsky shows us three different stories, taking place centuries apart with two central characters played by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. At least two of these stories are very closely related and deal with one man's obsessive quest for eternal love and victory over death. So in one of the stories in the past, Jackman is a 16th century conquistador sent on a mission by the Spanish Queen Isabella (Weisz). In the second, seemingly present day story, Jackman is Tom Creo, a research scientist trying desperately to save his wife from dying from a terminal illness. He is putting his heart and soul into finding a cure! In a distant future (or is it the present?), Jackman is shown in a bubble-shaped spaceship traveling into space with a dying tree, attempting to reach the Xibalba nebula to seek immortality via rebirth! Aronofsky combines these three stories dealing with themes of eternal love, immortality and rebirth, beautifully in a fashion which will enable viewers to draw parallels and try and make sense of this symbolism-heavy venture. He pulls it off by some clever editing and meticulously executed match-cuts. He also writes scenes with recurring motifs and scatters them across the 90 minute length of the film. There is also some dialog between the two leads that gives considerable clues to us baffled viewers. Technically the film is brilliant in all areas, with some great visual effects, excellent cinematography and sharp editing. There is enough material in these 90 odd minutes to keep you glued to your seats, if you are up for such films and are not already pulling out your hair out of frustration by the end of the first hour. The original music by Clint Mansell is wonderfully apt to the narrative. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz turn in superb performances, and Ellen Burstyn who worked wonders in Aronofsky's earlier "Requiem for a Dream" surprises with a very different performance in her brief screen time. "The Fountain" is a work of breath-taking originality by the talented Darren Aronofsky and deserves as much attention as his other cult classic "Requiem for a Dream". If nothing else, this film will certainly create a thought of wanting a repeat viewing in your mind. And once you've seen it again, you might be inclined to watch it again....if the initial viewing has not left you entirely disappointed, that is!

• Ginny  

  
  Hugh Jackman & Rachel Weisz + a couple of well known TV celebs. Trippy visuals. Even if the story was quite complex, something about it was just kinda flat. It had its moments but I fast forwarded a lot in this movie, and I dont normally do that.

• xGary X

  
  A surgeon desperately searches for a cure for his wife's cancer while absorbing himself into the world represented by her final novel. Darren Aronofsky is nothing if not brave and once again willingly sacrifices mainstream acceptibility to realise his vision. Similar in format to… More
  A surgeon desperately searches for a cure for his wife's cancer while absorbing himself into the world represented by her final novel. Darren Aronofsky is nothing if not brave and once again willingly sacrifices mainstream acceptibility to realise his vision. Similar in format to 2046 in that fantasy and reality are happening in parallel on screen, The Fountain is a representation of his musings on mortality, love and loss and coming to terms with personal grief. It is a truly stunning film to look at with an appropriately beautiful score, complimented nicely by a surprisingly sensitive performance by Hugh Jackman. Unfortunately the film's strength is also its weakness in that Aronofsky gets so carried away with his sumptuous metaphorical imagery that the characters are almost left by the wayside. This makes it difficult to form an emotional attachment to them and therefore fails to make the kind of impact that the subject matter really deserves. It is however, visually and aurally enchanting and has the kind of imagination and invention that is all too often missing from mainstream cinema and for that reason alone it is worth 90 minutes of anybody's time.

• Sarah G

  
  Quite extraordinary. Needs some time to digest what I've seen...review coming at some point.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  After the provocative "Requiem for a Dream", Darren Aronofsky demonstrates he's quite the interesting auteur, one who's not afraid to go all out and give you his unadulterated vision of love, death, life and grief. Aronofsky ally Clint Mansell sets the mood with… More
  After the provocative "Requiem for a Dream", Darren Aronofsky demonstrates he's quite the interesting auteur, one who's not afraid to go all out and give you his unadulterated vision of love, death, life and grief. Aronofsky ally Clint Mansell sets the mood with yet another beautiful score. Director of photography Matthew Libatique makes use of sepia and gold to compose the visual masterpiece that THE FOUNTAIN is. Hugh Jackman gives a first-class performance (his finest ever) and shows the film didn't suffer from the loss of Brad Pitt.

• Dean L

  
  I watched this when it was first released and felt that it needed a few spaced views in order to give it its due. If I had to sum this movie up I would call it the most tragic, Buddhist love story I have ever had the privilege to watch. However, there is no way to "sum up"… More
  I watched this when it was first released and felt that it needed a few spaced views in order to give it its due. If I had to sum this movie up I would call it the most tragic, Buddhist love story I have ever had the privilege to watch. However, there is no way to "sum up" this film. It is a true work of art. Aronofsky brings us two lovers bound by the ages one of whom is on a quest for immortality (and not necessarily for himself) teaching us that only through letting go of life may we find life eternal. Brought unto the tree of life we drink greedily. Beating in the breast of our lover find our own hearts. Knowing oneself is the mystery uncovered and in doing so find yourself in another. Does this sound confusing? It is painfully simple. Live. Love. Nurture. Die. Be born again. Through the centuries two lovers entwined. Through astounding imagery we transcend. This film is not to be watched, but experienced. Jackman and Weisz are superlative in their roles, but they are only conduits to feelings to be conveyed. Be at peace for you are where you are. Be present or risk losing the now. Simply be and live. Namaste,

Read all 20 featured audience ratings