Review of The Fountain (2006) by Devin C — 14 Jan 2014

So here I was sitting on the sofa minding my own business when out of nowhere I see the poster for The Fountain pop up in my Netflix. And, for some unknowable reason it got me thinking. As a result I decided to do a much belated review on one of the most under appreciated and under viewed films in recent memory.

Whenever I see this film I simply can't believe it garnered such negative reviews. Reviews which I can only assume deterred most people from ever seeing it. To the point, in fact, that I am quite sure I am the only person I know physically who has ever actually watched it. And as I think of that I somehow become very depressed. The simple fact is that so many people have missed out on what I found to be one of the most interesting, beautiful, challenging films I have ever seen.

The problem is that many of the critics have been turned off by the ambiguity of the film. It isn't straight forward. It doesn't just come out and tell you what it's about and how you are suppose to feel. And I think that is an intimidating thought for many people. By now, I am probably through my fourth or fifth viewing of this film, and I can tell you, I still don't know exactly what every part of it means. But that fact doesn't have to take away from the film.

I have always said that the mark of a great film is how it leaves you. How it resonates. A great film can be completely baffling yet be incredibly inspiring at the same time. And I think if you let it, The Fountain can be one of those.

I won't go into detail about the plot. To do that would be to invite madness into my mind, and I'd rather not be stuck up all night contemplating this movie again. What I will do however, is tell you not to focus so much on how things fit together in the end, but how the tone of the story makes you feel. Go into it with an open mind and appreciate it for what it is. A work of art.