Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain follows the story of a man who seemingly travels across three worlds. One as a conquistador, another as a scientist, and the last one as a monk. The proper plot of The Fountain is perhaps up to interpretation, but it is definitely a film worth watching at least a couple of times. While the multiple-world storyline is not new, Aronofksy's use of it make for a surreal yet beautiful experience of a tale of love, death, meaning, and acceptance.
The Fountain is without a doubt, a very unique film in that its meaning is almost obscure and abstract yet quite concrete. As the film progresses, we can see changes in the characters and more specifically their views on certain subjects, Hugh Jackman's three-roles will also stay in your mind for quite some time after watching the film as The Fountain is another film that shows his remarkable range.
The film itself is a work of art, a narrative-commentary on perhaps the meaning of life and death. It features a somewhat simple, yet very memorable score composed by Clint Mansell which does a fantastic job of alleviating the storyline. From a narrative point of view, The Fountain is a film that you are not meant to be explained to. The film asks you as the viewer to find the meaning yourself.
Furthermore, the cinematography of The Fountain is gorgeous and artistic, it really felt as if every shot carried so much weight and meaning, this accompanied with the three-world-storyline and surreal dialogue do a great job of wrapping up together an unexpectedly joyful and bittersweet experience of a film.
Ultimately, if you want a film that will make you continuously think about its meaning, attach you to delicate yet detailed characters, and also make you question your own worldview, the Fountain is a movie worth watching. Do not let the 2006 release date fool you, for the film itself still holds up to the current day, largely in part because of its complexity and curious storyline.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Batman Begins
(2005)
A Satisfying Revival of The Batman
29 September 2020
Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins follows the story of Bruce Wayne's childhood up until he decides to become, the Batman. Unlike the more commonly seen bright and happy Superhero films with predictable plots and repetitive structure; Christopher Nolan brings to us a more serious, gloomy, and realistic Batman where the main highlight is Christian Bale's stellar performance as Bruce Wayne and The Batman. Throughout the film, we see the evolution of Bruce Wayne and how his surroundings shape him to eventually become The Batman and it is a thrilling ride. The characters and how they interact with Bruce Wayne do have a lasting impression which adds to the growth of the characters. The film is an experience where we witness how Batman comes to existence, with a wonderful score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard and Nolan's exciting use of practical effects; The Caped Crusader was most definitely brought to life.
Batman Begins is an origin story done right and Christian Bale's masterful performance will surely mark him as one of the greatest actors to ever portray the Batman. Additionally, Michael Caine's fabulous performance as Alfred Pennyworth complimented Bale's and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox was a fantastic move by the casting team. Batman Begins is a consequential film and it cements itself as one of the darker superhero films. This is also demonstrated through the film's use of darker tones and minimal use of saturated scenes; there is also the use of warmer and cooler tones in which the lack of neutrality certainly suggests to the audience that there is not a lot of room for happier scenes. Subsequently, as much as it is a Superhero film; there is also something that we can arguably take away from the film. By the end of Batman Begins, if you have paid attention; you might find that you have learned something new or perhaps even receive a tip on life. At the end of the day, Batman Begins is a fantastic watch if you are looking for a Superhero film that avoids the happier conventions and I would even go as far as to say that Batman Begins is not just a Superhero film but also a dark crime-drama which will satisfy even the most hardcore Marvel fanatics and those that do not even have a preference for Superheroes.
Batman Begins is an origin story done right and Christian Bale's masterful performance will surely mark him as one of the greatest actors to ever portray the Batman. Additionally, Michael Caine's fabulous performance as Alfred Pennyworth complimented Bale's and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox was a fantastic move by the casting team. Batman Begins is a consequential film and it cements itself as one of the darker superhero films. This is also demonstrated through the film's use of darker tones and minimal use of saturated scenes; there is also the use of warmer and cooler tones in which the lack of neutrality certainly suggests to the audience that there is not a lot of room for happier scenes. Subsequently, as much as it is a Superhero film; there is also something that we can arguably take away from the film. By the end of Batman Begins, if you have paid attention; you might find that you have learned something new or perhaps even receive a tip on life. At the end of the day, Batman Begins is a fantastic watch if you are looking for a Superhero film that avoids the happier conventions and I would even go as far as to say that Batman Begins is not just a Superhero film but also a dark crime-drama which will satisfy even the most hardcore Marvel fanatics and those that do not even have a preference for Superheroes.
BlacKkKlansman
(2018)
Unforgettably Funny and Seriously True
10 September 2020
BlacKkKlansman is based on the real-life story of Ron Stallworth, the first-ever African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, who in an attempt to make a name for himself, infiltrates the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The opening of BlacKkKlansman itself is already an eye-opener, it creates this feeling of unrest and disgust towards the whole idea of racism and maintains it throughout the entire film. BlacKkKlansman is by no means a "hard-to-watch" film, there isn't anything ostentatiously complex that is thrown at us to figure out because Spike Lee does not want us to be confused by the film. What comes next can be predicted but I was never bothered by it, what stood out to me throughout the entire film was just how hard-hitting everything ended up being. Like most of Spike Lee's work, BlacKkKlansman was shot superbly: there are these subtle visual cues that indicate the change in atmosphere and the film's score is enjoyable and will stay in your head for a bit. The comedic aspect of the film co-existed with just how serious it was, it even made me wonder how Spike Lee was able to agree with the script in the first place. The choice of actors was spot on and it felt as if I was there in the 1970s, witnessing the events that took place in Colorado Springs.
After watching BlacKkKlansman, you will think about it again and again. The conclusion makes you question why and how was the film so terrifyingly accurate at expressing the blatant racism that took place during the 1970s, and how were the actors able to embody that so well. Perhaps this is why it exists in the first place as when you watch BlacKkKlansman, you may accept that it is fiction but it's also more than that; it is an experience in which the fiction that you are watching has also happened in the past and continues to happen in the present. Ultimately, that is exactly why when you watch BlacKkKlansman, you must understand that it isn't just a crime drama but also a social commentary that is raising awareness of societal issues that continue to plague the world today. If you're looking for a crime drama or detective story with true meaning, but also want to laugh along the way, then maybe you should consider watching BlacKkKlansman.
After watching BlacKkKlansman, you will think about it again and again. The conclusion makes you question why and how was the film so terrifyingly accurate at expressing the blatant racism that took place during the 1970s, and how were the actors able to embody that so well. Perhaps this is why it exists in the first place as when you watch BlacKkKlansman, you may accept that it is fiction but it's also more than that; it is an experience in which the fiction that you are watching has also happened in the past and continues to happen in the present. Ultimately, that is exactly why when you watch BlacKkKlansman, you must understand that it isn't just a crime drama but also a social commentary that is raising awareness of societal issues that continue to plague the world today. If you're looking for a crime drama or detective story with true meaning, but also want to laugh along the way, then maybe you should consider watching BlacKkKlansman.
Parasite
(2019)
A great example of how we can never have enough.
9 September 2020
Parasite follows the story of the impecunious Kim family, and how the prejudice of greed and class threatens their newly formed relationship with the Park family. In many ways, Parasite starts more like a comedy-a rather typical film that some may even describe as normal but: it is in the second quarter when after the Kim family and Park family have become acquainted, that the movie begins to live up to its title: "Parasite." The film was developed in such a beautiful manner that throughout the entire film; I found myself constantly guessing what will happen next but; I was always happy to be wrong. When I think of Parasite, I think of the sheer variety within its themes and how calling it a: "Thriller/Comedy" does not do it justice.
Whether it was the unsettling tune that played at the weirdest of times or the thought behind every shot, the entire movie had me convinced that it was going to be like nothing else. Parasite leaves us with a rather uneasy feeling, not because the film was not enjoyable, but because of the way it makes us question everything. I believe there is a message that comes out of Parasite and my take on it is that: "The act of falling is a lot worse when we fail to enjoy the summit." So If you're looking for a film that does many things wonderfully different and will leave you with a constant thought in your mind, then maybe Parasite is what you should watch next.
Whether it was the unsettling tune that played at the weirdest of times or the thought behind every shot, the entire movie had me convinced that it was going to be like nothing else. Parasite leaves us with a rather uneasy feeling, not because the film was not enjoyable, but because of the way it makes us question everything. I believe there is a message that comes out of Parasite and my take on it is that: "The act of falling is a lot worse when we fail to enjoy the summit." So If you're looking for a film that does many things wonderfully different and will leave you with a constant thought in your mind, then maybe Parasite is what you should watch next.
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