I swear as HEY-SOOS is my Lord and Saviour, he isn’t but I think saying that carries a lot of sachet with my Blue State constituency, this is the last time you’re going to hear anything from me regarding THE FOUNTAIN.
Never mind that the interview I posted on Monday with Golden Globe nominated composer Clint Mansell was heartbreaking if for no other reason than having to endure Pepe Le Peu’s acceptance speech about why his middling little flick was even deserving of an award much less my attention as that croissant-eatin’ , baguette schmearin’, Virginia Slim smokin’ frog tried to appear all humble as we all know Clint was robbed in a Louisiana Purchase sort of way out of that meaningless globe thinggy.
However, there is one award left in my possession that I won’t be giving away to anyone of French descent and that is the winner of a signed FOUNTAIN poster that I’ve unbelievably managed to keep in pristine condition since taking possession of it in November. I am not only glad to be getting rid of it but I am glad that is one more neuroses I won’t have to tend to once it leaves my home.
There does need to be a winner, after all, and I have to tell you that this was a great contest for me if for no other reason than I was comforted by all the entries that let me know there WERE people who went to see this movie when it was in wide release. I am tired of the blank stares from people who don’t know what I am talking about when I mention THE FOUNTAIN’s merits as my top film for 2006 and I am hopeful that the DVD release of this movie will help people understand why it was a crime that there wasn’t more of a swell in support when there was a chance to save it from box office obscurity.
Every one of you out there know what kind of pole-smokin’ I’ve done for this movie but what did other people say they appreciated about this little film that could so they could swipe an Aronofsky original from me? Read and appreciate the sentiments…Each one of you who entered gets a little blue foil star next to your name from me. I know it sucks cock that you didn’t win something but I am over the moon, to borrow such a crap phrase, that so many of you took the time to hammer out a response. I love you all. Sorta. Not really.
2nd Runner-Up is John M. (Short, concise and captures the one singular moment in the movie where it all coalesces very well…)
John M.
1st Runner-Up is Jesse R. (Why couldn’t have Jesse been in my creative writing classes? No, instead I get people who think death is this finite emotion that only AFI or My Chemical Romance can capture. Pure brilliance here…)
This is a movie that I have been watching the development from almost day one. I have the graphic novel and from reading that and watching the movie you can clearly see that this was a huge labor of love. There are short comings in the graphic novel namely how you can’t quite tell why the flash backs are important to the story except on a purely metaphorical stance.
I do agree with you that The Fountain is one of the very best movies of 2006. There are very few movies currently created that transcend entertainment and become art, and not even art that gets the reply “that is pretty,†but real art that you gain more appreciation upon days after you have see it. It is impossible for me pick just one scene from the movie, that is like stating that eggs are the most important part of a cake. A movie is not just single scene as I am sure you know, but it is how they all interconnect that make them great. The Fountain is a perfect example of such a movie where every scene could be written in great detail describing the importance of it, and the psyche of how men think. Upon reflection of the movie I can narrow it down to two scenes at least that strikes me the most emotionally.
The first one is when his wife wanted him to go for their traditional first walk in the snow, and instead he didn’t go because of his righteous duty to find her a cure. You see him there in the hallway about to leave; cocking his head to see his wife head out alone, the choice creep across the face and it silently hurts when he turns the other way.
The scene shows the struggle men have with wanting to enjoy the moment verses fixing the current issue.
The second scene is where he finishes reading her story, puts the book down and begins weeping. It reminds you of every time you realize what you had, what you gave up for your own selfish desires, and then it is too late. He grabs pen the she gave him, and starts redoing the wedding ring he lost. He is now committed completely to her and will not let anything else come between their love.
In essence this movie is the epitome of the man’s emotional struggle when faced with losing his very soul mate.
Jesse R.
And The Big Weiner, 1st Place Winner, is Dave M. (What’s unique about Dave’s point of view is that he has the same level of passion for this film that I do and he’s able to not only look at one moment but how small pieces fit into the larger whole of this movie. I swear to God, ’cause I think there is some kind of God but I don’t think there was really a HEY-SOOS, if I have only a fraction of AintItCool’s readership I am thankful because I am pretty fucking sure there aren’t as many people as articulate and well-punctuated as Dave here; he really wasn’t exception, either. He’s the norm. Thank you, Dave, for being smart enough to string sentences together coherently and your comments are well appreciated.)
As someone who loves the film, you know it’s impossible to pick one scene, so I’ll give you a couple and why they resonated with me.
-The entire story thread where Tommy is trying to find a cure for Izzi. I’ve never been put in the position of losing someone as close to me as a spouse, but the thought of not only having to watch your wife die, but also being smart enough to possibly find a cure bring a heart-wrenching question. Do you spend the time left racing the clock for a cure, or do you spend it as quality time with that person and build memories. The scene where he takes Izzi’s book into the other room and just has a moment of collapse truly brought me to tears. For me, that one scene they play several times of her in long hair running is a glimpse of the picture he has of her and will always hold. When she passes, the complete deconstruction of the man is heartbreaking.
-On the other side of the coin, at the end of the film when he resigns himself to dying was very powerful. A few people I know saw it as supremely depressing. I saw it as the ultimate release for Tommy. He’s been miserable being alive for so many years trying to save Izzi/The Tree that when he finally realizes that not only is he going to die, but he’s going to join Izzi again and that death isn’t necessarily the end of the road, he is truly relieved and happy. This is one point of the movie that is very open to interpretation, and that’s mine.
-One other thing that must be mentioned is the score by Clint Mansell. After the emotional grinder that The Fountain is, to listen to the piano piece during the credits was a release for myself and really allowed me to process the movie. Absolutely beautiful.
Dave M.
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