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Yes, I know that the Toronto International Film Festival 2006 was over a long time ago and that 23 days after closing night, it’s now fairly low on the blog-worthy freshness meter, however, IT IS my blog and I can do what I want. After this ramble, I’ll probably write another 2 to 3 TIFF-related posts to finally wrap things up. As I’ve mentioned more than once in my blog, here first and here again (now, for the last time for fear of getting verbally lynched), I saw the North American premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain at the lovely, historic Elgin Theatre. Arriving early meant grabbing a decent seat in the lower level with a good view of the screen and stage which wasn’t really a big deal on that day. Lack of sleep, exhaustion, “what the fuck is this about and it’s too early to think during” subtitled foreign films, and the “I can’t see anything here” at the backend of the upper level of the Elgin just don’t mix well with me, resulting in either nap (Zzz) or snap (psychotic).

Speaking of snaps, I was able to snap a few “decent” photos of Aronofsky and crew. Aronofsky introduced the movie, but alas, the dressed-up crew didn’t stick around for a Q & A. OK, the photos are unfocused, dark and grainy, damn my shitty flash and zoom-challenged camera and all the effing pro photographers with their fancy schmansy industrial hardware blocking my view! Umm… yes, gadget envy. I couldn’t salvage (via Photoshop) a very blurry photo of a 30-something white guy in a stark white suit. Didn’t anyone tell this dude the No White After Labour Day Rule? Clearly, the fashion rebel didn’t think ahead about possible spilt red wine stains while schmoozin’ and boozin’ at all those TIFF parties. Aronofsky introduced him as Eric Watson, one of the producers. A Google search turned up this boring fact: Watson also co-produced Aronofsky’s 2 other previous efforts, Pi and Requiem for a Dream. So yeah, no one really famous. Sorry, white suit dude, you’re just not famous enough to continue Photoshop recovery magic!

Now, before you start thinking that I’m going to write TIFF film reviews, think again. No sir, I have no inclination to waste my time explaining why I liked or hated a movie. I’m not that insightful, articulate or brave. You can Google, can’t ya? I will, however, say this, SPOILER-FREE… The Fountain is a sci-fi film that wrestles with big questions of eternal life, love, death, the human spirit and our existence on Earth. It covers 3 story lines that span 1000 years. It is a brilliant, ambitious, visually-compelling artsy film that at times seems disjointed, convoluted and bordering on pretentious. It is a divisive movie - some will really hate it or love it. The musical score by composer, Clint Mansell had a beautiful, ethereal quality, if not a bit repetitive. And the visuals? Arresting and stunning with beautiful macro photography. The acting was good, although Ellen Burstyn’s Oscar-winning talents were very underused (not her fault).

It apparently took Aronofsky 6 years to make this film… and I’m now thinking he had way too much time to think about it. Umm, yes, I really wanted to LOVE this movie. I just… LIKED IT. I don’t go to movies that spell out everything for me, but when I shuffled my way out of the theatre, I did wish that the director had stuck around for a Q & A to explain which drugs from Requiem for a Dream he took while filming The Fountain. Still, if you’re a sci-fi buff(oon), an Aronofsky or Hugh Jackman fan or a visual eye-candy whore like me, by all means, go see it this Fall.

Jackman plays 3 characters - a 16th-century conquistador on a quest to find the Tree of Life at the bidding of his romantic obsession, Queen Isabel of Spain, a modern day anguished medical research scientist obsessed with finding a cure for his terminally-ill wife, and a bald 26th-century astronaut. He probably did his best acting to date. He had scenes where all he did was act against a TREE. I’m not making this stuff up. I’m not that clever.

As for the needed chemistry between Jackman and Rachel Weisz, there wasn’t enough sizzle for me to believe in a tragic love story that spans centuries. I had read that Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were originally slated for the film, but Pitt had pulled out. Pitt and Blanchett starred as husband and wife in Babel, an excellent, thought-provoking movie that I also saw at this year’s TIFF. The question is, would Pitt and Blanchett have been any better together in The Fountain? Personally, I don’t think so. It’s only now that Pitt, the pretty face (with hot bod) is becoming a good actor (the Babel effort is his best to date).

The tag line of the movie is, “What if you could live forever?” Yeah, my question is, “If you could live forever, would you go see this movie again and again in all your reincarnated lives?” Nope, but I’d see it again, just once more… just for the visuals and to re-evaluate the ending. 7 out of 10 stars.

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Darren Aronofsky

Director and Co-writer of Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain

He introduced the film to a packed house at The Elgin in a charming and funny way. “Clear ‘Requiem’ and ‘Pi’ from your head. I was a punk rat little kid when I made those films, and now I’m a father, so respect me as a father,” he said.

And the reason Hugh Jackman couldn’t attend the screening? Aronofsky quipped, “He’s dancing in tight hot pants, touring Australia in ‘The Boy from Oz’ right now.”

He also introduced Rachel Weisz as “Oscar-winning actress” and mother of his infant son and stated that they had to leave early because Weisz had to feed dinner to their baby. Yeah, methinks they just had to scram outta there fast to hop to another booze-fueled TIFF party.

Clint Mansell

Composer of Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain

According to my Google search, San Francisco-based string quartet Kronos Quartet (who previously performed for the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack) and Scottish post-rock band Mogwai also contributed to the film score. As I’ve said, the score is beautiful, if not a bit repetitive. After Mansell, Aronofsky introduced the white-suit wearin’ producer, Eric Watson.

Ellen Burstyn

Best Actress Oscar 1974 - Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

Best Actress Oscar Nominee 2000 - Requiem for a Dream (as Sara Goldfarb)

She was wearing a colourful, sort of Chinese-inspired gown. Aronofsky introduced her as “Oscar-winning” and the crowd loudly applauded her when she came out. In the movie, she plays “Lillian”, boss of medical research scientist, Tom Verde (Jackman).

OK, so do you see a pattern here? Mansell, Watson, Burstyn? Aronofsky doles out jobs to people he has worked with in the past. That’s good job security for those folks, hehehe.

Rachel Weisz (I know, blurry pic)

She was wearing a post-maternity, black sack-like dress. Bleah. Big applause from the crowd when she stepped on stage. It couldn’t have been for the dress. Bleah.

Played modern day Izzi, wife of Tom Verde. She is terminally ill with cancer. She also played 16th-century Queen Isabel of Spain in another story line. Weisz is a great actress, very deserving of her Oscar for her role in The Constant Gardener, but in this film, I found her to be a bit stilted and less focused. Actually, her Izzi role kinda reminded me of The Constant Gardener role, just diluted. Methinks that unless she and Aronofsky have a horrible break-up, it probably means Weisz will get some leading actress roles in future Aronofsky movies. Har. Ah, job security. Well, unless the future films are stinkers… or maybe The Fountain will be a huge box-office failure and her agent will advise her to stop working with her lover.

Adieu,

fruity and dazed