The real tragedy of The Fountain is that Aronofsky doesn't allow his audience to exist with his characters, and the emotional weight of the stories is squandered on an overt symbolism.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 11, 2022

It's how we arrange the mental landscape of our past that can bring us to a sense of peace, and finality, with the good things of our lives

| Jan 14, 2022

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.

| Nov 8, 2019

Told in nonlinear fashion, the story keeps us waiting for revelations about what's really going on -- but these are few and far between. This problem is exacerbated by the artificiality of just about everything that we see.

| Nov 5, 2018

As with his other films, The Fountain is a labor of love for Aronofsky, and it shows. If you prefer intellectual and challenging fare, by all means, go and see this one.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 5, 2018

Wolverine Man Jackman works nobly in the three parts of his trinity.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 5, 2018

For all its missteps into mythological navel-gazing, The Fountain manages to stand apart as Aronofsky's personal exploration into the nature of love and the willingness to pursue an object of obsessive desire.

| Nov 5, 2018

The film comes in at 95 minutes, yet it makes scant use of even that time, filling scene after scene with confusing (though often beautiful) kaleidoscopic visuals and not nearly enough plot.

| Oct 16, 2018

Perhaps in twenty more years or so, [The Fountain] will be recognized for the utterly gorgeous masterpiece that it is.

| Original Score: A+ | Feb 20, 2014

Visual alchemist Darren Aronofsky's most personal work is a double helix of love and loss - death entwined with life as existence's only reliable truths. It offers a transfixing merger of biological imperatives and musings on creativity and tragedy.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 24, 2010

It's difficult to recall another American film that, in pursuing a passionate and personal vision, goes so maddeningly, uproariously wrong.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2010

A metaphysical muddle.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 6, 2010

The continuous sense of deeply felt discovery tempers the movie's overreaching pretentiousness

| Aug 28, 2009

You can judge for yourself whether a money shot of semenesque tree-sap is a proper payoff, but the movie is at least texturally rich, tonally consistent (brooding, always) and much fussed over by its maker.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 7, 2008

This film raises an interesting question: How far is a viewer willing to follow a talented filmmaker down a rabbit hole, when it becomes clear that said filmmaker has lost his way?

| Jul 7, 2008

It's a simple story told with Zen directness, its fingers deep in the age-old questions, its eyes and ears wide open to the sensual potential of cinema.

| Original Score: A+ | Feb 13, 2008

So simple, so elaborate, and yet so utterly brilliant...

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 23, 2008

I will concede the film is not a great success. Too many screens of blinding lights. Too many transitions for their own sake. Abrupt changes of tone.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 14, 2007

Despite its flaws, it's still worth watching.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Yes, The Fountain is ridiculous, arguably pretentious, pining for your attention like a sixth grade emo kid. And I love it to pieces.

| Original Score: A | Jul 3, 2007