Review of The Fountain (2006) by Robertthebruce — 13 May 2007

It never ceases to amaze me how hypocritical movie going audiences can be. For years we hear people complaining about how movies are too formulaic, predictable and narrative like. But when a movie, that truly reaches beyond the conventions of the typical Hollywood blockbuster finally comes forward, it is shunned, as people flee back to their tried and true formulas and trilogies.

This it seems is the story of the Fountain. The film is truly a work of art, combining some of the most beautiful cinematography and music yet seen in a movie theater with an idea that is so simple, so common place, but at the same time so utterly life changing.

Like the theater of Brecht, the Fountain is not so much about the narrative, but how what we are seeing communicates to us. It is for this reason that I feel the movie has had such a bad showing. The ideas its presents are so raw, so completely human, that it is hard to see them presented to us in this fashion.

The ideas, for for average movie going joe, are to big and at the same time, close to heart to contemplate in a movie theater. For this reason, the Fountain should ONLY be seen by those who are able to watch a film without everything being spelled out for them, and by those intelligent enough to analyse the films message and how it is conveyed.

Is truly one of the most original, innovative and moving films for a long time.