Earlier today I posted two new reviews for The Fountain from both THR and Variety. I admitted that I was surprised to see both reviews bash the film; especially after reading so many positive reviews before the recent film festival in Venice.
After posting the update I received quite a few emails that I can only summarize into a single word: "bullshit!" It turns out that there are plenty out there who have screened the film and are just going ape shit about it. Though none of the people who wrote in gave me any reviews in their own words, I recently picked up another two reviews for The Fountain to appear online and these are VERY positive.
The Fountain Reviews
After the two negatives from Variety and THR earlier today, here are two positive reviews for The Fountain.
Joblo
The film’s final 20 minutes or so feature some of the most stunning visuals that I have seen on the big screen in quite some time. I literally felt transported into this other world drenched in imagination, depth of purpose and a consciousness that was no longer just human. I really can’t wait to see this movie again, since unlike many films that have been churned out of Hollywood over the past few years, it actually tries something highly ambitious and on top of that, succeeds on almost every level. You gotta respect a filmmaker who is able to spend so much time on a project (it took Aronofsky about six years to complete this film) and ultimately deliver a result that should satisfy most anyone looking for an alternative in today’s movie marketplace. The film can easily be seen as a meditation on life itself, or better yet, an examination of what constitutes “true love” within the confines of our human lives on planet Earth, while at the same time, carrying with it three intertwining stories featuring developed characters who are obviously connected, driven and engaging to follow.
AICN
Walking out of it afterwards, stepping out of this incredibly dark screening room and this 98 minutes of... magic... it seemed painfully bright. I wanted to run the film again. I didn’t want to step outside yet. I didn’t really want to talk to anyone afterwards, either. I just wanted some time to take it in.
It’s a lesson for me. A thrilling one. Because whatever I thought THE FOUNTAIN would be, it wasn’t. Whatever I’d read and seen, the movie that Aronofsky made is so much more.
Add to Heffee!
