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The Fountain By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," the undying elves view death as a "gift" granted by God to mankind, an insight that comes late to the immortality-seeking protagonist in "The Fountain" (Warner Bros.). The titular Fountain of Youth is imagined here like the tree of life in the Book of Genesis, quoted in the film's opening. Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, the genre-defying story -- tragic romance, historical adventure, sci-fi fantasy -- weaves together three interrelated tales set in the past, present and far future, with the couples in each all ably played by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. The central and most compelling of the triptych follows medical researcher Tommy Creo's race for a cure to save his terminally ill wife, Izzy, who is writing a novel. Throughout, Tommy reads the manuscript, the plot of which echoes his own quest: A 16th-century conquistador is dispatched to the New World to locate the Fountain of Youth for his lover, the queen of Spain. His search leads him to a Mayan pyramid where, in one of the film's best scenes, he pays a steep price for his obsession. Least effective are the New-Agey sequences that take place in the 26th century, as Tommy -- who hasn't aged a bit and, with a shaved head, resembles David Carradine in the old "Kung Fu" series -- practices tai chi and meditates in the lotus position as he floats in a spherical spacecraft toward a distant star revered by the Mayans, where he hopes to discover the secret of eternal life. (Shades of "2001: A Space Odyssey"?) During these segments, Weisz is limited to ghostlike appearances. Intriguing in its concept, if not completely successful in its execution, the spiritually flavored film is by turns poignant and confusing, but the visuals are striking and the unifying themes of love and mortality provide for some thoughtful reflection on the way death helps delineate our humanity and give our lives meaning. The film contains some violence, a suggested marital sexual encounter, a bloody scene of self-mortification, brief torture images and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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