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Movie Review .....
The Fountain

  • In theaters November 22nd, 2006
  • Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violent action, some sensuality and language
  • Runtime: 96 min
  • 3.5 out of 5
COMPLETE REVIEW BELOW

Review by Anne Jackson

Main Photo Do you want to know what it's like being on a mind-altering substance, but you're wise enough not to actually eat the "special brownies?" Welcome to the movie known as The Fountain. A beautifully made film that will make you wonder if the mushrooms on your pizza weren't a little bit magic.

There are three storylines in The Fountain. Actually, nix that. There are three stories in The Fountain. Any sort of formula including character development, plots, subplots, climax and resolution don't exist.

Hugh Jackman plays a surgeon trying to rid the world of cancer and death. And he also plays an ancient conquistador. Oh, and he also plays a futuristic, bald, yoga-esque man who lives in a bubble with a the tree of life, floating toward a golden nebula, light years away.

  Pic 1 Rachel Weisz plays Hugh Jackman's author wife (the surgeon Hugh Jackman) Izzy. Izzy has terminal brain cancer, and we are taken into the fight for her life. Throughout her illness, she has written a book called "The Fountain." The book is about a conquistador (Jackman) sent on a mission by his queen (also played by Weisz) to find the Tree of Life, hidden by God after the fall of Adam and Eve. Once he finds the Tree, the queen and conquistador will live forever.

In between Jackman slicing open monkeys, trying to find a cure for Izzy; Jackman fighting Mayan priests to find his Queen eternal life, we can't forget Jackman floating in his space bubble. The Mayans believed a certain star formation (Xibalb·) is where eternal life is found. Gracefully and mystically, he transcends in a beautiful array of stars and whispers and music.

  Cusack / Lane Are you totally lost yet? Don't worry. I was too. And to be honest, I'm not quite sure if I understand this film. Regardless of that, it was so beautifully made, wonderfully acted and captivating, I didn't mind the fact I wasn't able to completely understand. Maybe that's the point. The struggle between death and life and mystery of an afterlife doesn't have solid answers. But the journey from birth to death and beyond is a beautiful one.

Some people won't like this film. If you're looking for a good story and cathartic resolution, skip this movie. But if you want a divine work of art that will leave you feeling strangely complete despite the fact there are no answers, The Fountain is definetely worth your time. I give The Fountain a 3.5 out of 5.

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Anne is a writer, artist & coffee addict who lives with her husband and two emotionally unstable cats in the Dallas area. She works at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall and in her free time enjoys badly impersonating foreign accents, photography, and eating anything chocolate. You can reach Anne on her blog at Flowerdust.net.

 

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