By: debbie lynn elias
Hugh Jackman and last year’s Best Actress Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, come together in the poignant THE FOUNTAIN. Selected as AFI’s Centerpiece Gala Selection this past November, THE FOUNTAIN is written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. Last helming “Requiem for a Dream”, Aronofsky now brings to life man’s 1000 year old quest for the elusive Fountain of Youth.
Traveling through the annals of time, Jackman and Weisz assume the roles of multiple characters set in different periods of history. We initially meet 16th Century Tomas as he nears his goal of finding the Tree of Life. With his quest cut short by a fire branded sword, time fast forwards and we see Jackman now as Buddha dreaming of an angelic woman named Izzi.
Cut to present day and Jackman is Tom Verde, M.D. Married to the beautiful Izzi, we quickly learn that she is dying of an inoperable brain tumor. Determined to save the love of his life, Tom uses experimental drugs formulated from a Souther American tree bark on a monkey in the hope of finding a cure for Izzi. Bereft and berating is Lilian, Tom’s team leader from his treks to South America, who has nothing hopeful or kind to say, even as the monkey starts to make an unusual recovery. Not only is the monkey’s like tumor decreasing in size, his cells and organs appear to be regenerating, growing more youthful with every passing hour.
Facing her own mortality, Izzi has put her last days to good use. She has penned a novel called “The Fountain”, leaving the final chapter for Tom to complete on her passing.
Fueling the age old debate of life and death, the emotional and intellectual struggles set forth are heart-wrenching and thought provokingly intriguing. A tacit strength permeates the characters and Jackman and Weisz are mesmerizing.
Luminescent and stunning in its visuals, the emotional narrative propels us into an introspective self-analysis that will have the audience talking long after the film’s end. Although some may find the ping-pong time travels as distracting or even annoying, this is definitely my pick as the most beauteous and emotionally exquisite films of the decade. THE FOUNTAIN speaks volumes.
