Rolling Numbers...
Added 3/4/2010
Max (Sean Gullette) is a troubled soul. He is a mathematical genius, searching for a number that will unlock the mysteries of the stock market. He's not doing this for profit. He is driven by his life-long obsession with / passion for number patterns in systems. All systems, in all of creation. To Max, the chaos of the universe is just a complex puzzle to be solved in order to see the numerical patterns in it. Unfortunately, Max has pushed himself beyond his own capacity. He's beginning to unravel. Can he find this elusive pattern before his total mental collapse? PI is the story of order in chaos, insanity in genius, and nightmare folded up in waking reality. Darren Aronofsky (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) has fashioned a tense, suffocatingly paranoic, schizoid dreamscape for Max to explore. Danger and doom hang over every scene like lead aprons! Wondrously bleak...
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If 6 was 9
Added 1/30/2010
"Pi" is one of Darren Aronofsky's first films. It's in B&W--and yet it manages to be incredibly surreal. Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) is fascinated with the nature of mathematics,for he sees how numbers underly everything. He is obsessed with number theory;he DOES believe in the number pi. At the same time, there are Hasidic Jews who want him to calculate Armageddon. The ending is pretty twisted... and it's not worth giving away. Before Aronofsky did more ordinary movies about wrestlers and ballerinas, he did this psychedelic,surreal work. Oddly,his movies have become more ordinary and mainstream. Mickey Rourke shaving his pits doesn't have the same horror as the ending of "Pi." Have a piece of "Pi"... it's a delicious,intriguing masterpiece.
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Interesting music score, not much else
Added 1/10/2010
I liked the music score with the cinematography-- the composer did a good job. Otherwise, there is not a lot to recommend this film. It was shallow and pretentious-- I guess it is a film director's idea of what mathematicians think about. I could have spent my time washing dishes and found more meaning than I did in this film.
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Highly original, beautiful film
Added 9/26/2009
If you're looking for explosions or anything with a basic plot structure, this movie isn't for you. But if you're looking for something unique, original, and interesting, you have to check this out.
The movie pulls off the black and white perfectly; it sets the tone of the story extremely well. It's an interesting twist on numbers and math; it's a nice exaggeration of the power of numbers. The black and white pixelization technique is amazing, to say the least. When i first saw this, i was waiting for more plot, but what i later realized is how amazingly this movie is in the most subtle ways. It left a lasting impression on me, begging for a re-watch.
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Pi (1998)-Another film about a paranoid scientist, but a good one.
Added 9/9/2009
Pi (1998) was another great five star film about an apparently paranoid, but brilliant scientist having a preoccupation with numbers. His paranoia is evident as he has practically barricaded himself into his apartment with several redundant locks (like Jack N. in "As Good as it Gets"), and only ventures out to meet with his old teacher. His prefessor recommends that he slow down. Max, his fameous and best student is trying to computer model the governing dynamics of the stock market, while his mentor and old professor has been looking for patterns in pi (3.14159, etc.). I suppose the math work behind these objectives is enough to drive anyone over the edge, but his professor actually does die mysteriously from something half way through the film.
Although the much overused theme of a paranoid scientist living in the 90's appears on film once again, this movie was really well done. The film featured some great photography using enhanced contrast B&W film stock, neat shots of multi-ethnick lower Manhattan and New York's fameous subway system with lots of atmosphere, and a really interesting plot guaranteed to drive you insane
A nice, even charming side feature is when Max is approached by a very friendly but odd person who asks him if he is Jewish. A few moments later, just like a regular customer of one of New York's fameous Mitvos-Mobiles, Max is praying and learning how to be a good jew. He soon finds out that his good natured host is also using math to study jewish scripture. Hold onto your sanity, now we are really off to the races.
One sign I noticed of a low budget film was the bald skull cap that Max wore after he shaved his head. You could see wrinkles all over the poorly made prop. I think you will like this film as it has many subtle touches. I also enjoyed the opening graphics which looked like they were taken from some advanced work in mathematics. Just one thing, I don't think anyone will be too crazy about the "musical" score which is all loud percussion and electronic noise.
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Rolling Numbers...
Added 3/4/2010
Max (Sean Gullette) is a troubled soul. He is a mathematical genius, searching for a number that will unlock the mysteries of the stock market. He's not doing this for profit. He is driven by his life-long obsession with / passion for number patterns in systems. All systems, in all of creation. To Max, the chaos of the universe is just a complex puzzle to be solved in order to see the numerical patterns in it. Unfortunately, Max has pushed himself beyond his own capacity. He's beginning to unravel. Can he find this elusive pattern before his total mental collapse? PI is the story of order in chaos, insanity in genius, and nightmare folded up in waking reality. Darren Aronofsky (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) has fashioned a tense, suffocatingly paranoic, schizoid dreamscape for Max to explore. Danger and doom hang over every scene like lead aprons! Wondrously bleak...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
If 6 was 9
Added 1/30/2010
"Pi" is one of Darren Aronofsky's first films. It's in B&W--and yet it manages to be incredibly surreal. Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) is fascinated with the nature of mathematics,for he sees how numbers underly everything. He is obsessed with number theory;he DOES believe in the number pi. At the same time, there are Hasidic Jews who want him to calculate Armageddon. The ending is pretty twisted... and it's not worth giving away. Before Aronofsky did more ordinary movies about wrestlers and ballerinas, he did this psychedelic,surreal work. Oddly,his movies have become more ordinary and mainstream. Mickey Rourke shaving his pits doesn't have the same horror as the ending of "Pi." Have a piece of "Pi"... it's a delicious,intriguing masterpiece.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Interesting music score, not much else
Added 1/10/2010
I liked the music score with the cinematography-- the composer did a good job. Otherwise, there is not a lot to recommend this film. It was shallow and pretentious-- I guess it is a film director's idea of what mathematicians think about. I could have spent my time washing dishes and found more meaning than I did in this film.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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