The Fountain
| The Fountain | |
|---|---|
| File:Postfountain1.jpg | |
| Directed by | Darren Aronofsky |
| Written by | Story: Darren Aronofsky Ari Handel Screenplay: Darren Aronofsky |
| Produced by | Darren Aronofsky Arnon Milchan |
| Starring | Hugh Jackman Rachel Weisz Ellen Burstyn |
| Cinematography | Matthew Libatique |
| Music by | Clint Mansell |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates | November 22, 2006 |
Running time | 96 min. |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35 million |
Template:Infobox Film rating The Fountain is a 2006 science fiction drama film co-written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. It is set to be released on 2006-11-22.
Plot
Template:Spoiler The Fountain is an odyssey about one man's thousand-year struggle to save the woman he loves. His epic journey begins in 16th century South America, where conquistador Tomas Verde (Hugh Jackman) 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 Tom Verde, he desperately struggles to find a cure for the cancer that is killing his beloved wife Izzi (Rachel Weisz). Travelling through deep space as a 26th century astronaut, Tom begins to grasp the mysteries of life that have consumed him for more than a millennium. Template:Endspoiler
Project history
On 2001-04-21, Darren Aronofsky announced his intent to film an untitled sci-fi epic for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow with "serious negotiations" for Brad Pitt in the lead role.[1] Darren Aronofsky also sought to attach Cate Blanchett to the project. The director explained that he wanted to create a sci-fi film that went beyond technology and science. According to Aronofsky, "The interesting things are the ideas; the search for God, the search for meaning." Addressing that, Aronofsky said, would be "the most ambitious thing I've done to date and the biggest challenge."[2] After several delays due to pre-production issues and Blanchett's pregnancy at the time, Warner Bros. went forward with Aronofsky's project with a budget of over $70 million.[3]
Two months before production began, Brad Pitt left the project to film Troy.[4] While Aronofsky and Pitt were rumored to have creative differences during pre-production, Aronofsky stated in an interview that Pitt was not really at fault, saying, "The ultimate reason [The Fountain] shut down is because of Brad, but Brad didn't do it. He didn't come to Australia, but why he didn't come has to do with a lot of things and has to do with many politics of his own life as well as what had happened before that on a film."[5] As a result of Pitt's departure, production shut down, shelving the project for the time being.
On 2004-02-27, Aronofsky resurrected The Fountain with the help of Warner Bros., although he only received a $35 million budget for the project.[6] Aronofsky cast Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz to replace Pitt and Blanchett in the lead roles. The director finally began production on November 2004 and filmed The Fountain through 2005.[7] The Fountain will screen at the 63rd Venice Film Festival in early September and has a target release date for 2006-11-22.[8]
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Hugh Jackman | Tom Verde |
| Rachel Weisz | Izzi / Isabel |
| Ellen Burstyn | Lilian |
| Cliff Curtis | |
| Sean Gullette | |
| Donna Murphy | |
| Ethan Suplee | |
| Sean Patrick Thomas | |
| Mark Margolis | Father Avila |
| Alexander Bisping | Del Toro |
Musical score
In addition to Clint Mansell reprising his role as composer for The Fountain after scoring for Aronofsky's film, Pi, the string quartet Kronos Quartet and Scottish post-rock band Mogwai will be contributing to the film score.[9]
Trivia
- Aronofsky's film was titled The Last Man before it was changed to The Fountain.[10]
- Aronofsky and Weisz presented a panel for The Fountain at Comic-Con International in 2005, showing a trailer and the first 10 minutes of the movie.[11]
- The Fountain was completely shot on a soundstage in Montreal.[11]
- Mayan Mysticism was the main cultural influence for The Fountain, particularly the Mayan Mystic Tree.[11]
- The co-writer for the film and long-time associate of Aronofsky, Ari Handel, has a Ph.D in neuroscience from New York University.[12]
- Aronofsky specifically wrote in parts for Ellen Burstyn and Mark Margolis, who were previously in Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream.
- 20 of the 70 extras cast as Mayan warriors were actually Mayan, flown in from Guatemala.[13]
- Hugh Jackman had to shave off all of the hair on his head and chest for scenes in the last third of the movie.[citation needed]
- Instead using computer generated special effects in the film, Aronofsky wanted to use methods that would keep the film from looking dated. The director hired Peter Parks, a specialist in macro photography who works with photographing undersea microorganisms, to produce visual effects, such as filming chemical reactions in petri dishes, to help the film stand the test of time.[14]
Graphic novel
A graphic novel of The Fountain (ISBN 1401200591) illustrated by comic artist Kent Williams was released in November 2005 to positive reviews. The graphic novel is based on the original script Darren Aronofsky wrote for the movie he originally had in mind. After the initial script was refused for production reasons, Darren Aronofsky presented the script to Vertigo Comics to be transformed into a graphic novel. Aronofsky gave Kent Williams the freedom to visualize the story as he saw fit without having a say in what the graphic novel turned out to be.[5]
Footnotes
- ^ "Aronofsky Writing Sci-Fi for Warner Bros". RottenTomatoes.com. 2001-04-10. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linder, Brian (2001-06-28). "Blanchett Joining Pitt in Aronofsky's Next". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linder, Brian (2002-07-25). "Fountain Flows at Warner Bros". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linder, Brian (2002-09-13). "Brad Pitt: Achilles Heel". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Epstein, Daniel (2005-04-01). "Darren Aronofksy - The Fountain". SuicideGirls.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linder, Brian (2004-02-27). "The Fountain Flows Again". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linder, Brian (2004-08-05). "Weisz Wades Into Fountain". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sperling, Nicole (2006-08-01). "Back to future: WB changes 'Fountain' date". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mogwai Contribute to Film Score on Aronofsky Film 'The Fountain'". Spacelab Music News. 2006-08-01. Retrieved 2006-08-02.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Aronofsky's Last Man Undergoes A Title Change". Ain't It Cool News. 2002-06-06. Retrieved 2006-08-02.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "The Fountain panel with Darren Aronofsky and Rachel Weisz". Ain't It Cool News. 2005-07-16. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Weiland, Jonah (2005-04-06). "Talking The Fountain Graphic Novel with Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Carr, David (2005-03-20). "A Reincarnation Story That Won't Stay Dead". New York Times. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Weiland, Jonah (2005-04-11). "Talking with the Makers of "The Fountain"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2006-08-02.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)