Pi (1998) Review

PI (1998)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writers: Darren Aronofsky, Sean Gullette, and Eric Watson
Producers: Randy Simon, Tyler Brodie, Jonah Smith, David Godbout, and Eric Watson
Editor: Oren Sarch
Cinematography: Matthew Libatique
Music: Clint Mansell
Starring: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, and Pamela Hart
Best Credit: Stanley B. Herman as "Moustacheless Man"
Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes
Rating: R (languange & some disturbing images)
Genre: Suspense, Sci-Fi
Release Date: July 10, 1998

Before Watching the Movie: If I were you, I'd read a quick article on the Fibonacci Sequence if you are not already familiar with it OR just look at the picture down the review a bit on the right side.

Intro: This is one I've heard about for a while, and as someone who loves mind-benders and psychological thrillers, I was interested. I was not disappointed. Pi is a great movie, especially considering its tiny budget. It's very original and the directing and editing are top-notch, even if the story is somewhat hard to follow.

Things Some May Find "Objectionable:" There's one scene where there's several f-bombs, but otherwise it's light on the swearing. Also, some of Max's hallucinations might be disturbing to some, as there's some blood involved, but not a lot.

Plot: A young and brilliant mathematician named Max Cohen (Gullette) believes that everything in nature, including the stock market, can be simplified down into numbers. With the help of his supercomputer, Euclid, he pursues a number he believes can explain existence. As he does, corporate bankers and a Jewish sect become interested as his headaches and paranoia increase.

What was Good:
     -Directing/Cinematography: The directing, in my opinion, is what made the film so engaging and watchable. I think it was absolutely brilliant. The shots are all so interesting and, along with the editing, help convey a sense of Max's paranoia. I think the directing is the reason the filmmakers were able to pull off Pi, as it could have been a really stupid movie in somebody else's hands.
     -Editing: The editing was nothing short of brilliant. I think it is really what makes the movie so suspenseful. The cuts come in short, paranoid progression and help show the type of insanity that is plaguing Max.

This is a Fibonacci Spiral. This plays a key role in the movie,
so I thought I'd include it. It's found in lots of places in nature.

     -Music/Score: The music is usually pretty simple and repetitive beats, but it works so effectively to help create the feeling of suspense and paranoia that Max is experiencing. One thing the filmmakers did a great job is creating something great out of very limited materials, and the music is an example of this.

     -Story: This is another thing I really liked. The movie was very original. Hardly ever do we see math-centric movies, but Pi pulls it off very well. I've never heard of anything like this plot of a guy chasing a "god number," if you will. In my opinion, originality is better 95% of the time (see Godmonster of Indian Flats for a glimpse of the other 5%).
     -Action/Suspense: Not much action, but a ton of suspense. The movie, as I've mentioned before, plays into Max's paranoia and makes you almost as paranoid as he is, thus creating the suspense of, A). not being completely aware of what is going on, and B). fearing that everyone is out to get Max. Anyway, if you want suspense, Pi is a good movie to watch.

     -Acting: Though I've never heard of Sean Gullette before watching the movie, I think he does a great job as Max. The other actors are good in their roles, but Max is kind of the only main character and he has far and away the most screen time and lines.
     -Intelligence: There's no two ways around it: Pi is a total mind-bender. It's one of those movies that really forces you to think, especially at the end. This is a movie that would probably fly over most people's heads just because it's hard to wrap your brain around some of the concepts. However, this is a main reason I really liked it. I guess I'm just drawn towards mind-benders.

What Could Have Been Better:
     -Storytelling: For the most part, it is told well, but it does get confusing at times. I think this is somewhat intentional to portray the paranoia and confusion Max is experiencing, but this does make it a little hard to follow towards the end. In its trippiness, sometimes viewer comprehension is lost.
     -Characters/Emotional Involvement: Not really the focus of the movie. The backstories of the characters really aren't given and the plot is far more psychological than it is emotional. Still, the depictions of Max's paranoia and its progression are well-done.

The Verdict: Pi is a really good movie. It's totally original, has incredible directing and editing, and it builds suspense very well. It is mind-bending and trippy, and this may lose some viewers, but if you can keep up or deal with it, I highly recommend this one. If you're a science, math and/or number person, I would recommend this even more.

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