The Fountain (2006)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writers (WGA):

Darren Aronofsky (screenplay)
Darren Aronofsky (story) ...

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

What If You Could Live Forever?

Plot:

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.

Plot Keywords:

Tree | Love | Space | Queen | Future

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Hugh Jackman	...	Tomas / Tommy / Tom Creo
Rachel Weisz	...	Isabel / Izzi Creo
Ellen Burstyn	...	Dr. Lillian Guzetti
Mark Margolis	...	Father Avila
Stephen McHattie	...	Grand Inquisitor Silecio
Fernando Hernandez	...	Lord of Xibalba
Cliff Curtis	...	Captain Ariel
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Antonio
Donna Murphy	...	Betty
Ethan Suplee	...	Manny
Richard McMillan	...	Henry
Lorne Brass	...	Dr. Alan Lipper
Abraham Aronofsky	...	Lab Technician
Renee Asofsky	...	Lab Technician
Anish Majumdar	...	Dr. Spencer

Also Known As:

The Last Man (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violent action, some sensuality and language. (edited for re-rating; originally R)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Maya

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 (original rating) | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A (edited for re-rating) | USA:R (original rating) | Singapore:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-13 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate #41776) | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Cité du Cinéma, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The score, composed by Clint Mansell, is played by the Kronos Quartet and the Scottish rock band Mogwai.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The map used by the conquistadors to find the Tree of Life is erroneous. The priest says the three points which form an equilateral triangle on the map are Chichen Itza, Yaxchilan, and Tikal. However in reality, the three Mayan sites form an obtuse triangle, with Chichen Itza been the northern-most and the eastern-most point.

Quotes:

Izzi: Remember Moses Morales?
Tom Creo: Who?
Izzi: The Mayan guide I told you about.
Tom Creo: From your trip.
Izzi: Yeah. The last night I was with him, he told me about his father, who had died. Well Moses wouldn't believe it.
Tom Creo: Izzi...
Izzi: [embraces Tom] No, no. Listen, listen. He said that if they dug his father's body up, it would be gone. They planted a seed over his grave. The seed became a tree. Moses said his father became a part of that tree. He grew into the wood, into the bloom. And when a sparrow ate the tree's fruit, his father flew with the birds. He said...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Inside 'The Fountain': Death and Rebirth (2007) (V)

Congratulations Aaronofsky! You redefined the sci-fi genre!

Easily the best film I've seen this year. Although definitely not something for everyone, as a lot of people will probably think it's difficult (which it is). But going into the film open-minded, and just taking it all in (the beautiful cinematography/visual effects, powerful writing, wonderful direction) you'll no doubt have the time of your life. It's more thought provoking and emotionally/visually draining than anything else I've ever seen (somewhere along the lines of "Donnie Darko" or "2001"). I can't say enough good things about it honestly. I just can't wait to go see it again. No doubt a movie that will be talked about for years, and will probably be under-appreciated forever.