Sunday, January 8, 2012

"The Fountain"

*****


Here are some things that struck me on my fifth viewing of this amazing film. The director uses a pallet of basically four colors: mainly black and white, with occasional splashes of red, and everywhere washes of gold. These colors are all symbolic of life and death. Darren Aronofsky is a true visionary, a master of color and light and framing, and here is some of the most powerful and beautiful imagery I've EVER seen in a film.


But the imagery alone does not carry the movie. Aronofsky's skilled direction and tender, heartfelt script would mean nothing if not for the performances of the main characters. Rachel Weisz is always good, and this is no exception. And she is, in my opinion, more beautiful than normal, because here she seems so fragile, so delicate, a tenuous thing that must be treasured. And, brace yourself, kids, Wolverine can really act. Hugh Jackman's performance is amazing and heartbreaking, and I don't understand for a moment why he wasn't nominated for an Oscar here.


The compounding layers of story are dense, yes, but they do make sense if you just put forth the effort to understand. This is not a movie for casual viewing, and I think that's where most people had a problem. If you simply watch it, you will be lost. It requires dissection, discussion, and hard contemplation. It is a tough movie, about accepting the hardest facts of life, and I have no shame in saying I haven't been able to get through it yet without weeping copiously.


"Death is the road to awe." We hear this phrase several times in the movie. Think on this as you experience The Fountain, and if you reach an understanding, you will be awed.

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