"Fountain" remixed

Here's a site that lets you futz around with music and images from Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain...okay. Obviously a kind of promotional "Hail Mary" pass but fine. Clearly, curiously, not enough people are getting into this film. It has only a 50% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating. I told Aronofsky when I saw it late last summer than anyone who's taken LSD or mescaline should definitely be receptive to it. Not to be overly simplistic, but could some of the difficulty come down to the fact that not enough people out there are sufficiently "experienced"? (Well....I am.) Those on the fence may want to at least consider Devin Faraci's CHUD rave.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 9, 2006 at 4:08 PM

comment #1

breadlymoore Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, are you and Faraci dating?

I can't imagine any other reason to link to CHUD so much in recent weeks.

Posted by breadlymoore Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 4:33 PM

comment #2

Hopscotch Author Profile Page says ...

I get a "Solaris" vibe.

Sci-fi and Romance sometimes mix like oil and water. Other times it can be quite moving and wonderful...I'm trying to think of good examples but am drawing a blank.

Also, this is what the fourth, fifth Hugh Jackman movie this year. One just came out couple of weeks ago. I still really want to see the movie don't get me wrong.

Posted by Hopscotch Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 5:11 PM

comment #3

John Y Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, please tell me you are not endorsing drug use as the only way to appreciate a film of this nature.

Posted by John Y Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 5:20 PM

comment #4

Bandersnatch Author Profile Page says ...

I have to admit, I was not at all interested in this film until I saw the trailer (before The Prestige, of course.) The three-word summaries that show up in all the movie mags and blogs - "time-traveling romance" or "mind-bending love story" - make it sound like a rehash of Kate and Leopold or What Dreams May Come: both turn-offs for me and, I suspect, many other people. And Hugh Jackman can be a little hammy (see the aforementioned K&L), so I wasn't sure whether to trust him on this one. But the trailer, combined with my respect for Aronofsky, finally convinced me that the movie is more than just a sap-fest with snazzy CGI.

That 50% positive rating is a little scary, though. And folks who don't know Aronofsky (he's not a household name among mainstream audiences) won't have that going for them.

Posted by Bandersnatch Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 5:22 PM

comment #5

Jesse Perry Author Profile Page says ...

I've read Devin's reviews for a while now, and it takes a lot to pry out this kind of rave from him. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Posted by Jesse Perry Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 6:36 PM

comment #6

JD Author Profile Page says ...

I've seen The Fountain and, while it certainly has stand-out sequences (including a great ending), it's way more muddled and unfocussed than the running time (90 minutes) or trailer would suggest. After seeing the trailer, I was sure there would be some kind of coherent -- or at least interesting -- way of combining the three threads, but the film's no more coherent than the trailer.

As far as semi-experimental, fall Hollywood movies go, I thought Marie Antoinette was far more original, aesthetically interesting, and affecting. Unfortunately (I had high expectations), The Fountain is oddly in-your-face, heavy-handed, and not as mysterious or intriguing as Aronofsky wants it to be.

Posted by JD Author Profile Page at November 9, 2006 6:51 PM

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