THE FOUNTAIN Film Review - 16/5/07

I can't say I enjoyed this film or even understood it fully; as it is a strangely ethereal mix of pain and loss set across a thousand years or so, with the same characters in different versions of three histories from 16th. Century Spain, the present day and the future in the 26th. Century. A very long film clocking in at a 173 minutes it is visually stunning but raises more questions than it answers? It is hard to follow as it jumps from time to time and trying to get your head round it all just won't happen. I felt at a loss after viewing this creation which reminded me vaguely of the film "Silent Running" another film about loss & redemption. "The Fountain" is a hard film but intelligent - But extremely hard going - You would really need to stick with it. It is also not a film about romance or science fiction - But does have these elements attached to it.

Hugh Jackman & Rachel Weisz head up the cast with Jackman's character in 16th. Century Spain travelling to a Mayan temple in a search for the Tree Of Life, flitting between the present day as a scientist trying to find a cure for his wife's illness, then journeying into the 26th. Century as a futuristic astronaut flying towards a star nebula close to destruction.