The Fountain (Darren Aronofsky, 2006)

[moviscop]

Aronofsky would have started out in an ultra-serious frame of mind when he first set about creating this film and he could only have become fanatically serious after the initial production was halted. It's an unapologetically ultra-serious film that compensates with visual and aural beauty. What the film has to say should give one pause, but it's the presentation and vibe of the film that are off-putting, I feel.

For me, the universal themes of the film and the virtuoso style are often at odds with each other and the sombreness of the core story is hard to become involved with in the face the vastness of the eternity and impersonal nature of reality that surrounds the two main individuals.

I have always had the feeling that Western, secular audiences don't care for esoteric stories like these. How did the film fare in India, one wonders? Perhaps The Fountain's reputation will change and that I myself will have a different opinion on it in later years, as it seems to be that type of film that could sneak up on you later and have a different effect upon one. Aronofsky wants a Criterion edition, btw.

I really like this response.

[Murdoch]

Aronofsky wants a Criterion edition, btw.

The last thing Criterion needs is its e-mail flooded with Fountain requests, as is suggested in the article.

[margot]

There'd be nothing wrong with a Criterion release of The Fountain, although I wish they'd release Sunshine.

[moviscop]

margot, shouldn't you be at the wedding. haha! i love listening to myself make jokes. and about sunshine.

Spoiler

i must say the film was good 2/3rd the way in. however, once they made made the threat literal and made the movie into a monster film. it took away all of the atmospheric buildup and instead of choosing a psychological threat, they decided to throw in a piece of burnt hamburger meat with superhuman strength, even though he had been cooking for quite a long time.

boyle's problem is, he can't finish him films.

[mfunk9786]

There's something a bit agitating about a filmmaker just assuming that his film, which disappointed at the box office and was released to mediocre reviews, should even be considered for a Criterion release if they didn't go to him about it first. (last few words added to avoid someone inevitably referencing Wes Anderson)

[margot]

There's something a bit agitating about a filmmaker just assuming that his film, which disappointed at the box office and was released to mediocre reviews, should even be considered for a Criterion release if they didn't go to him about it first. (last few words added to avoid someone inevitably referencing Wes Anderson)

Didn't Michael Bay force Criterion to release Armageddon when Criterion only wanted to do The Rock?

Also you act like it's some kind of insult to want your film released by Criterion.

[chaddoli]

He's just saying it's arrogant to campaign for a Criterion release when one wasn't offered by Criterion. Aronofsky thinks his film deserves to sit on a shelf next to Solaris. I think he's a loon.

(I've found myself being pretty hard on him in this thread, but I do think Requiem is a good film - I blame that on Hubert Selby, Jr.)

[mfunk9786]

There's something a bit agitating about a filmmaker just assuming that his film, which disappointed at the box office and was released to mediocre reviews, should even be considered for a Criterion release if they didn't go to him about it first. (last few words added to avoid someone inevitably referencing Wes Anderson)

Didn't Michael Bay force Criterion to release Armageddon when Criterion only wanted to do The Rock?

Also you act like it's some kind of insult to want your film released by Criterion.

I didn't for one second say "Michael Bay would never have committed such an act of blasphemy!" I think it should go without saying that almost everything Bay touches is, by nature, agitating.

[Antoine Doinel]

He's just saying it's arrogant to campaign for a Criterion release when one wasn't offered by Criterion. Aronofsky thinks his film deserves to sit on a shelf next to Solaris. I think he's a loon.

(I've found myself being pretty hard on him in this thread, but I do think Requiem is a good film - I blame that on Hubert Selby, Jr.)

It's not arrogance -- as Aronofsky points out, Criterion was interested in his previous films so it's not completely off the wall that they might want to work with him again. And frankly, for Warner to bare bones release a disc (at least in R1) by a cult director is ridiculous, and at least for contemporary films, Warner's has set a terrible trend of late of forgoing commentaries for lame EPKs at best or nothing at all at worst.

And am I the only one who unabashedly loves this film?

[domino harvey]

And am I the only one who unabashedly loves this film?

I hear Aronofsky is a fan

[jbeall]

I liked The Fountain well enough, although I thought it took itself way too seriously for what it actually was. Some absolutely beautiful images, though, esp. toward the end. The last ten or so minutes really impressed me.

But it's already got a dvd release, and what's more, I don't need Aronofsky telling me how to interpret the film. I get the sense that Aronofsky is a high-brow Kevin Smith--oh yeah, I went there!--who thinks that every bit of minutiae associated with his film needs to be seen so we can all bask in his genius. Yes, Darren, explain your movie's symbolism to all us poor, uneducated plebeians... Frankly, it's better that his films get bare-bones releases so that audiences can enjoy them for what they are and not get irritated by A's self-importance.

There's so much more stuff that I wish Criterion would get to that I'd be genuinely pissed off if they acquired The Fountain.

[tavernier]

Frankly, it's better that his films get bare-bones releases so that audiences can enjoy them for what they are and not get irritated by A's self-importance.

Well-played.

[Morbii]

And am I the only one who unabashedly loves this film?

Nah, moviscop is with you as am I. I'd say this film ranks in my top 5 (commence flames ). I absolutely adore it. Mind you, I don't consider Aronofsky one of the greatest directors ever or anything (maybe years from now I will) but I love this film.

[flyonthewall2983]

I loved it.

[moviscop]

I would probably say the film ranks on the top of the 5 best of that year.

I absolutely adored it though. I didn't like Requiem that much, but this one just hit all the right notes for me. I have watched it more times than any other film in my collection which is weird. The film is just accessible and easy to re-watch.

[wattsup32]

And am I the only one who unabashedly loves this film?

i did too. one of my majors in school was philosophy, so there is no limit to the amount of obscure, esoteric, and pretentious that i can endure. and, i guess i can understand how some people hate the film for just those reasons.

[Antoine Doinel]

Aronofsky wants to make an addendum to the film, an alternate story using previously unused footage.

[Barmy]

An alternate story would certainly be preferable to the one he used. ](*,)

[moviscop]

I saw some of the extra footage with Tom using shrooms. This takes away from the purism of the film.

If you guys are interested, I have the Fountain commentary hosted.

[Person]

If you guys are interested, I have the Fountain commentary hosted.

Big thanks from me and my friend who ranks this movie in his top 3!