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Amazon.com: Patterns exist everywhere: in nature, in science, in religion, in business. Max Cohen (played hauntingly by Sean Gullette) is a mathematician searching for these patterns in everything. Yet, he's not the only one, and everyone from Wall Street investors, looking to break the market, to Hasidic Jews, searching for the 216-digit number that reveals the true name of God, are trying to get their hands on Max. This dark, low-budget film was shot in black and white by director Darren Aronofsky. With eerie music, voice-overs, and overt symbolism enhancing the somber mood, Aronofsky has created a disturbing look at the world. Max is deeply paranoid, holed up in his apartment with his computer Euclid, obsessively studying chaos theory. Blinding headaches and hallucinogenic visions only feed his paranoia as he attempts to remain aloof from the world, venturing out only to meet his mentor, Sol Robeson (Mark Margolis), who for some mysterious reason feels Max should take a break from his research. This movie is complex--occasionally too complex--but the psychological drama and the loose sci-fi elements make this a worthwhile, albeit consuming, watch. Pi won the Director's Award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. --Jenny Brown
Customer Reviews:
- Aronofsky at his edgy best: A real film noir cult classic in black and white. Not for the squeamish, this sci-fi thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Maximiliam Cohen on the quest for the most important discovery of his life. He's trying to decode the numerical pattern beneath the ultimate system of ordered chaos -- the stock market. He teeters on the edge of insanity, and he uncovers a secret for which everyone is willing to kill.
- Doesn't hit the right marks.: This is a short story dragged out for 81 mins. Thats right 81 mins and this movie was too long. The black and white picture didn't work at all for me. I dont understand why in this particular movie that they would use black and white instead of just regular color. The black and white picture made it hard to see what was going on in the very few action moments of the film. The movie for the most part was boring. The acting for the most part was pretty good which is probably the biggest upside of them film. This is not a movie you should buy but one you should rent if you must watch it at all.
Pros: acting and premise, which in the long run didn't pay off.
Everything else hits the con margin making this a two star movie. - Pi: I received this movie and enjoyed it very much. Thank you for your promt and courteous response.
Sincerely,
Mona Ghaffari
- Disturbing, but this is a classic. Obsession with Numbers. Neurotic Genius ?: This movie is disturbing, yet it is a classic because it is powerful. Neuroses, Obsessive behavior, and mind boggling compulsions flow through the dark scenes. Watch it straight, or you'll probably have flashbacks. This movie is trippy. Insanity and bodily betrayals prevent the mathematician from dealing well with reality, though he seems hell bent on proving the mathematical foundations of reality.
Kabbalists, Occultists, thinkers, and philosophers will dig this one. Stoners beware: paranoia pervades. As a psychology student, the film reveals a steady descent into madness, but is the guy mad or extremely focused on his work? All creative people are a little crazy, but this guy is scary. I am still not sure how to evaluate the main character of the movie, but it makes people think so I recommend it. - Pi = Snooze??: I will be as fair as possible with my review. I will tell you right from the start that I did not watch the entire movie. The problem is, that I tried twice and couldn't stick it out to the end. I am a big movie buff and will usually watch just about any movie. Well, the first time I tried to watch Pi I decided to turn it off and see if there was something better on TV, because the movie was making me sleepy. Then, I attempted to watch it with my fiancee a couple of weeks later and we both fell asleep less than halfway into it. It is a very boring movie and I guess I don't have what it takes to stick it out and analyze it. I would encourage everyone to stay away from this movie.
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