Produced by: Eric Watson Directed by: Darren Aronofsky Stars: Sean Gullette as Max Cohen Released: 1998 Run time: 84 mins Certificate: 15
note** shot in black and white reverse film
I only purchased this film in January and it has become a favourite DVD in my collection. It was recommended to me by a lecturer and I am pleased to say it met with my expectations.
DVD:
The Pi symbol takes centre stage on the cover of the DVD underlined with the words 'faith in chaos' they say don't judge a book by its cover but with this DVD you can.
Special features Include:
Deleted scenes Music Video Behind the scenes montage Trailer Directors and actors commentary (liked this) Cast and crew Biog
Background:
This film is concerned with analysing the relationship between numbers and nature. This offshoots into Max Cohen extrapolating this knowledge to the study of the stock market, hypothesising that this system of seemingly random numbers may like nature have a pattern. From Max's perspective the stock market is akin to a living organism.
Characters & Plot:
Max is the personification
of his own mind. He is a Reclusive, mildly obsessive and paranoid character, which manifests itself in his delusional hallucinations. He is a mathematical prodigy who from childhood has suffered from terrible migraines. The explanation for this is in the form of a quote scattered throughout the film and is indicative of Max's personality.
"When I was a little boy my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six I did"
Max lives in a flat which is hardly a fit living space as its dedicated solely to his homemade computer Euclid, (name has significance) which he uses to pursue his goal.
Due to the nature of his research as the film progresses many people become interested in his findings, from wall street to Kabbalistic Jews. Who believe that the Torah when it is interpreted numerically actually contains the name of God and believe Max has the key to the answer.
Max has some interesting relationships with the people around him. The two most significant I find are Max's mentor Sol and his female neighbour who acts as an almost motherly character to him. She is clearly fond of him but he denies himself any relationship with her.
Max's mentor and old Pi enthusiast Sol Robeson who is played by Mark Margolis has abandoned his own Pi research, and now seems more interested in his pet fish to Max's obvious dismay. Sol quirkily names these fish Archimedes and Pythagoras . The two regularly play an old game known as 'go' this is a game based on simple rules that produces a complex game strategy which popular among mathematicians.
As the film progresses Max finds himself tackling an increasingly aggressive wall street firm. With the breakdown of Euclid and his mentors death he begins to crack. The scenes become much more intense and are complemented by the soundtrack, which includes such artists as Aphex twin and massive attack.
Max eventually realises that the number his computer spit out before the breakdown is in fact a 216 digit code that wall street and the Jewish sect would kill for. However, as you will see Max has no intention of sharing his knowledge with anybody. He believes that only he can understand the true implications of what he has found thus he alone knows the secret
Afterthoughts:
Id describe this film as an experience, you can engage with it as much or as little as you like, but a deeper more abstract knowledge is there for the taking if you wish.
The more visually astute may notice strange images and scenes dotted throughout, which seem significant but at first sight seem to have no obvious correlation to the story, but this only makes it more intriguing . For example repeatedly scenes of crawling ants are shot, you think "what do ants have to do with the plot?" Just a quick search for ant colony algorithms will answer your questions.
This film is definatly thought provoking. Its wonderful engaging in debate about it. I love to hear peoples interpretations of the films meaning as I find them both intriguing and great to listen too. One point of contention among me and my friends was to do with the last scene, where after max carries out the act of trepanning (drilling into his own skull) officially Max is supposed to lose his math abilities and begins to see clearly and simply for the first time. However we think otherwise….. Of course there are a hundred and one scenarios so watch it for yourself and deicide!
Reccomeded Site:
http://aronofksy.tripod.com/piexclusive1.html -
Ive Just added this, for it is an Expertly written analysis of the film.
Pictures of Pi (DVD)
Pi DVD Cover - Love it!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Nice, easy to read, detailed and informative review there indeed..........Roy......
scream4bruce 13.10.2006 02:22
Sounds like something I could watch.
astrababe 24.09.2006 18:22
Sounds like an intelligent movie which would make a nice change. Haven't heard of it but the cover is eyecatching so if it turns up in our video store I'll consider it.
Advantages: Contains virtually all of John Lydon's music videos to date, plus Sex Pistols and PiL extras Disadvantages: No original Pretty Vacant video, only being released within the UK and Europe
Aug 2nd, 2006
(Aug 13th, 2006)
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