With his third major film, Darren Aronofsky decided to conquer the challenge which humanities drive for immortality poses. His first flim, Pi, focused on mathematics, numerology, and god. His second film, Requiem for a Dream, focused on the destruction which drugs poses to relationships and ones body/mind. They are all some of my favorite movies, but I think that The Fountain is most open to idiotic interpretations of it.
It follows Hugh Jackman's character Dr. Tom through his search for a cure for the brain tumor which his wife Izzi (played by Rachel Weisz) is dying from. Izzi is a writer who has been working on a piece of fiction which the movie plays out as the same characters during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Tommy's hopes and dreams are for the futuristic storyline (which has been left open to one's interpretation as to whether he found a cure for mortality). And the current day storyline is the one which is happening for sure.
As with his past movies, Aronofsky focuses on the humanity of people and how we deal with stress, trauma, and fear. Izzy is seen in the later stages of grief whereas Tommy is seen in the earlilest (denial and anger). Only in the futuristic depiction of Tom and Izzy do we see Tom having come to grips with his grief. The people surrounding Tom are always reaching out to help him, yet he almost always rejects it or doesn't let them do as much as they would like to.
Although the actors do an excellent job portraying the complex humanity which Aronofsky is focusing on, the movie is much to slow and thought provoking for most novice movie-viewers. If one is unwiling to think during the movie, it will be slow, dull, and confusing.
Despite the complex nature of The Fountain, it is too good to miss. So get that brain warmed up a little, gather a group of friends up, and watch it before your number comes up.