Three seemingly disjointed narrative strands intertwine in Aranofsky's The Fountain to fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Tom (Hugh Jackman) is a scientist who is racing to find a way to destroy the brain tumor that is killing his wife Izzi (Rachel Weisz). The obsessed Tom tenaciously pursues his objectives, often neglecting the last moments he will have with his rapidly dying wife. Izzi is writing a novel about a Spanish queen (also played by Weisz) who sends a conquistador (Jackman again) to South America to find the Tree of Life that has been hidden deep in the Mayan civilization. The third narrative strand takes place 500 years in the future as Tom travels with the tree in a bubble to a distant dying nebula.
Although the plot components seem individual they synergize to become so many wonderful and moving moments, so much visual prowess and so much beauty, that it is hard not to be overcome. Without a doubt, a cinematic, musical and artistically brilliant film, representing Aronofsky's genius in creating powerfully exceptional stories. |
