'The Fountain'
(Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, et al / R / 98 mins / Warner Bros.)
Overview: A man (Hugh Jackman) embarks on a thousand-year struggle to save the woman (Rachel Weisz) he loves. His epic journey begins in 16th century Spain, where conquistador Tomas Creo commences his search for the Tree of Life, the legendary entity believed to grant eternal life to those who drink of its sap. As modern-day scientist Tommy Creo, he desperately struggles to find a cure for the cancer that is killing his beloved wife Isabel. Traveling through deep space as a 26th-century astronaut, Tom begins to grasp the mysteries of life that have consumed him for all these years.
Verdict: OK, simplistically put ... Jackman and Weisz are lovers throughout the centuries. At one point he's a Spanish conquistador, and she's Queen Isabela. Then he's this modern doctor, and she's his dying wife Izzi. Then he's bald, and it's the future and he's floating in a space bubble in the lotus position and she's … a tree. I think. He talks to the tree a lot. Whispers sweet nothings to it. It's got to be her! A literal geyser of ambition, 'The Fountain' is arty, pretentious psychobabble ... and I loved every second of its deep richness!
'The Fountain'