Films

It's not often that a movie truly moves you, whether it disturbs you, or makes you rethink your morals and even values, it's those movies that we need to cherish. Over the course of the history of film, there have been directors that have given us hope, shame, laughter, sadness, and even a shade or two of humility. But few film makers in our time, do this or even attempt to elicit the same response as the film makers of the past. But that's why I'm here to talk to you. Give you insight into the more obscure film makers, and today, I'm going to introduce you to one of my favorite film makers of our time. Darren Aronofsky.

Aronofsky was born in Brooklyn to Abraham Aronofsky and Charlotte, both school teachers. His father taught science and was a dean at Bushwick High School. He graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School. But enough about that, let's talk about his films.

We'll discuss the relevance of Requiem for a Dream (I know there are several movies before this one in his background).

For those wanting to experiment in drug usage please see this film. The original opening was rated NC-17 and for good reason, but those who are under age and are thinking of drug abuse, need to see this film. One of the greatest things about this film is the way Aronofsky portrays his addicts played by Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly Marlon Wayans, who has lost all the comedic edge, and is simply trying to survive in a reasonable manner. Back to the point the way he portrays his addicts in this film, when they use a window of perfection and happiness opens and displays a world where everything is right and just, and over a short period of time, this window slides shut and thier lives reduce themselves into a maddening and often sexual and violent search to have the money for the drugs again. The movie is astounding for it's honesty, and it's in your face way of making the point, because it is just as the novel the movie is based on, a very important topic. And as such, it makes this movie all the more important.

His second in must see films I will admit isn't for everyone. This movie is about death. Plain and simple. Death and aging is something we see enough of on TV, whether it be on CNN, or in Loreal commercials for the perfect anti-aging cream. This movie isn't about the quest for eternal life as much as it is about the fight to hold off death for one moment longer. The story begins with Thomas (Hugh Jackman) being sent to South America in search of the Biblical Tree of Life, sent by Queen Isabella (played by Rachel Wiesz). And slowly before your eyes the movie slides into the 21st century as Tommy a molecular biologist is on the threshold of discovery. His experiments with a mysterious tree root found in a unknown location in South America have yielded amazing results that could save his wife Isabelle (Weisz) from the terminal cancer that's killing her. What's not shown is the timeline in which Isabelle's fear of death has slowly subsided and at this point she has made peace with her fate, But Tom refuses to give up and sees death as a disease that can be cured.

21st Century a "space traveler" Tom Creo is on a journey to the nebula xiabulba ( Pronounced Sha-bulba) . His travels in a sort of futuristic transparent bubble that carries him and the tree of life at blazing speeds through outer space. He hopes that bringing the tree to the nebula will give him the power to reunite him with a woman he loved. A woman who bears a strong resemblance to Isabelle.

The message and ideas in the film aren't difficult to decipher there is just a slightly confusing path that the movie decides to take. And bravo for it, because a director who challenges all and asks that you sit and think about what is being shown, is in my opinion a true director. Jackman and Weisz play characters from three different eras and there has been debates over whether they are all the same people or different. Isabelle happens to be writing a novel called "The Fountain" that bears a striking resemblance to the conquistador's story. Is the conquistador Tommy's Ancestor or just a character in her book? The same could be said of the future version of Tommy. Has he figured out a way to prolong his life for half a millenia or is it the last part of Isabelle's story that she asks him to finish after she suffers a seizure and perishes? It is nice that from an artistic perspective that the possibilities remain open as none of these questions are ever answered. And I'm glad, because I believe that there is more fun and entertainment to be had when a story can have various interpretations, making the audience participants and then it truly becomes something more of a Classic than just a simple film.

But I urge you, please see these films and come back to me and let me know what you think. I like to discuss films and their messages!