6. The Fountain
Darren Aronofsky is a truly unique filmmakers, after the independent success of Pi and Requiem for a Dream, he was allowed to indulge in his ultra-ambitious passion project, The Fountain. There were numerous problems in pre-production such as star Brad Pitt leaving over script reservations and the studio being worried about the mounting costs of the film, concerns that turned out to be realised as the movie bombed at the box office. The film itself, is a unique wonder, with interwoven storylines and grand themes, all captured with a visceral beauty. Many appreciated the ambition of the piece, but it alienated much of its audience with its drastic changes in tone and occasional lack of focus. The picture is only just over 90 minutes long, but for some it felt like 4 hours as it got increasingly confusing. Despite the initial mixed reception and commercial failure, The Fountain has become a cult classic with good DVD sales, showing more people are coming round to it, but its detractors are many, and they are vocal in their distaste for the movie.