At the cinema
Hugh Jackman goes bald in The Fountain
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Friday, 26, Jan 2007 11:03
A truly epic tale of love and death is portrayed on cinema screens this week in The Fountain. Hugh Jackman stars as Tommy Creo, a man desperate to save his wife (Rachel Weisz) who has cancer. But it's not a straightforward tale, and takes place in three stories set in the past, present and future. The three are linked together as Creo's love for his wife haunts him across the centuries.
Director Darren Aronofsky has obviously laboured intensely on this film and the actors all put in admirable performances. But at times the film is slightly awkward and the century-hopping can become confusing and tiresome. Despite any weaknesses those who choose to see this film will no doubt walk away pondering life's great questions: what it means to love and die.
See our more detailed review of The Fountain > here.
Magnificent performances from the cast of Venus help to make this a witty and endearing 95 minutes looking at age and time. Peter O'Toole has been nominated for an Oscar for his role, and quite rightly so. He appears as Maurice, one of two men who were once great English actors but who now have more roles playing corpses in hospital dramas.
New life is injected into him though with the arrival of his friend Ian's niece, the slightly chavvy Lolita-esque Jessie. Maurice is instantly drawn to her and nicknames her "Venus". As he falls in love with her Jessie becomes increasingly uncomfortable with being his muse. But O'Toole's acting manages to keep his feelings towards her from being portrayed as perverted and instead he subtly provides a humane portrayal of the indignity of ageing.
See our detailed review of Venus here
Another film given a nod for best actor at the Oscars is Blood Diamond. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Danny Archer, a South African mercenary who is on a mission to uncover a rare pink diamond. His story becomes entwined with Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) - a Mende fisherman who is also on the same quest. Set during the chaos of the Sierra Leone civil war in the 1990s, Blood Diamond is a bloody and harrowing tale of the cut-throat side of the diamond industry.
Other films out this week include Bobby, the political drama about the assassination of Robert F Kennedy starring Heather Graham, Anthony Hopkins and Lindsay Lohan.
See our detailed review of Bobby here.