Darren Aranofsky is distinguished by his talent for filming tapes, which later become cult, with a small budget: first, the American director released Pi (budget 60 thousand dollars), then Requiem for a Dream (budget 4 million dollars). In 2006, Aranofsky directed the film Fountain for just $ 35 million. Reviews from the public and critics were mixed. What is this movie about, let's see?
Darren Aranofsky and other filmmakers
Darren Aranofsky and in this project has not changed his own traditions. Firstly, he was simultaneously a director, screenwriter and producer of the tape. Secondly, global ideas and Napoleonic plans were at stake again: in one of the interviews, the director admitted that he tried to do everything to make the film pass the difficult test of time. In the column "film genre" was indicated "parable", which immediately sets the viewer on the perception of "high" thoughts about human being. Maybe that's why the film "Fountain" reviews from critics and viewers received a very controversial.
Aranofsky prefers to work with trusted people, so the Fontana film crew overwhelmingly consisted of those with whom the director had already collaborated. For example, the soundtrack for the film was written by Clint Mansell, who also worked on the musical scoring of 2 previous paintings by Darren Aranofsky: “Pi” and “Requiem for a Dream”. Cameraman Matthew Libatic also "migrated" to a new project from 2 previous films of the director. And the film was produced, in addition to Aranofsky himself, by the Israeli multi-billionaire Arnon Milchen, who is related to the director’s last work - Noah (2014).
The film "Fountain" - what is the point?
Everything that happens in the film “Fountain” for 96 minutes can be interpreted in different ways: the main action is constantly interrupted by some surrealistic paintings that at first glance only distract from the main storyline. But this is the method chosen by the director to tell this story; there is no point in criticizing it. Who knows, maybe it was such a non-standard approach that made the viewer leave a positive review after watching the movie "Fountain". Everything unusual attracts attention.
Three parallel storylines develop in the film: in the present, future and past. In the present, the oncologist's wife Tom Creo (Hugh Jackman) dies of a brain tumor, and the man puzzles over how to save her. Izzy Creo (Rachel Weisz) does not share her husband’s fixation on her salvation, it’s much more important for her to just spend time with him, communicate, finish her book. Finally, Tom found a clue: he believes that extract of a certain tree can help defeat a tumor. But Tom does not have time to implement his plan, Izzy passes away, while asking her husband to finish her unfinished book.
Episodes from Izzy’s book and Tom’s symbolic dreams are constantly mixed with reality and woven into one ball. Aranofsky does not confirm or refute any of the interpretations of these surrealistic paintings, claiming that everyone can see what is happening in their own way.
Actors and roles
For any actor, filming in the movie "Fountain" would not be easy - reviews, a description of the plot are proof of this. The main roles in the film went to Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, and the director best appreciated the work done by the actors.
Also involved in the film was Ellen Burstyn, who had previously played Sarah Goldfarb in the film Requiem for a Dream. Mark Margolis, who was involved in the film "Pi", this time embodied on the screens the image of the holy father of Avila. Stephen McHattie is a Canadian actor who in 2006 played in the drama 300 Spartans, and in 2011 in the movie War of the Gods: Immortals, he played the role of the Grand Inquisitor in Fontana.
A wild Mayan tribe on the screen was embodied by 70 actors, 20 of whom are indeed Mayan descendants living in Guatemala. These include Fernando Hernandez, who received the role of master of Sibalba thanks to his excellent command of the English language.
In addition, in the picture you can see Cliff Curtis (Die Hard 4), Sean Patrick Thomas (Cruel Intentions), Donna Murphy (Spider-Man 2), Ethan Sapley (“Butterfly Effect”), etc. d.
Hugh Jackman and his character Tom Creo
Positive reviews of the movie "Fountain" (2006) often related to the game of Hollywood's favorite - Hugh Jackman.
Previously, the role of Tom Creo was taken by Brad Pitt. However, some serious disagreements with the actor forced Darren Aranofsky to abandon the previous cast and invite Hugh Jackman to the project. According to the director, he did not regret for a minute, because the Australian turned out to be not only a flexible and receptive performer, but also a great hard worker.
Hugh Jackman even before the release of the screens of "Fontana" surprised the audience with his ability to transform. He felt equally good not only on the set, but also on the stage. Jackman's filmography covers all genres: from the action movie (X-Men) to music films (Les Miserables). He perfectly succeeds in the roles of scoundrels and superheroes, criminals and deeply decent people.
To shoot in the movie Fountain, Jackman at some point had to shave his hair and completely remove his hair from his chest. The name of Jackman’s character in Spanish means “I believe”, the same saying can be applied to the talented play of the actor, which is simply impossible to not believe.
Rachel Weiss as Izzy Creo
When Englishwoman
Rachel Weisz agreed to shoot in the film, she was engaged to Darren Aranofsky. According to the director, the actress, having read the script, literally “grabbed” it and said that no one could cope with the role better than she did.
Weiss, and before filming in "Fountain" was distinguished by a love of unusual cinema. For example, she played a major role in the mystical action films The Mummy and Constantine: Lord of Darkness, so it is not surprising that the opportunity to participate in the experimental picture of the groom inspired her so much.
The role of the cancer-dying Izzy Creo, however, did not become her better job. At the same time, the participation of the actress in the film allowed to cut budget spending by half.
Premieres and box office
For the first time, critics and spectators saw the picture “Fountain” in 2006 at the Venice Film Festival. In September of the same year, he premiered in France at the Deauville festival. Until November 22 (when the film was released in the USA), the director managed to present the film at the International Film Festival in Toronto, São Paulo, Copenhagen, Zurich, Warsaw, etc. In Russia, the official premiere of the picture (March 1, 2007) was attended by 95 thousand people.
The film did not pay off at the box office: world fees totaled only $ 15 million. $ 6 million was obtained from the release of the picture on DVD.
Interesting Facts
The film "Fountain" (2006), reviews, reviews of which leave more questions than answers, was originally called "The Last Man."
Leaving the project in 2002, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett led to financial losses of $ 43 million. Before filming resumed in 2004, Darren Aranofsky managed to rewrite the script several times.
“The Fountain (2006)”: reviews, reviews
According to the rating of film critics around the world, the picture received 51% positive reviews.
A review of the film "Fountain" written by one of Russian critics suggests that the story turned out to be too confusing, and not every viewer, having watched the tape to the end, can tell with confidence what it was shot about. Read "encryption" - it is unlikely that the viewer wants to go to the cinema. Any director who widely uses allegories and metaphors, all the same, should not break away from the reality and mental abilities of the viewer, since the picture is shot specifically for him.
At the same time, there are many positive reviews that praise the director’s non-standard approach to the embodiment of his ideas and his desire to talk about the eternal - love, life, death. Is it possible for a person to avoid death? Or is death necessary so that the soul can be renewed again and again, come into this world to receive a new spiritual experience? The viewer must probably find the answer himself, since Darren Aranofsky admitted in his interview that he did not try to give an answer, and the film can be called a kind of “thinking out loud”.
As for the viewers, they describe what is happening in the film with epithets “beautifully, colorfully” and mostly admire Aranofsky’s work, claiming that when they are re-watched, they will discover more and more new truths.
In conclusion, only one thing can be said: the work of Aranofsky, including the film "Fountain", a review of an unambiguous nature does not deserve either critics or the audience. For this reason, philosophical cinema exists in order to provoke disputes in which truth is born.