Pi (1998)
This week’s Movie of the Week, Pi, is the first film from one the most creative filmmakers of the
past two decades: Darren Aronofsky. One of the most interesting things about
Aronofsky’s films and what I admire most about them is that at the base of each
film there is an examination of the human condition. Beneath or accompanying
Aronofsky signature approach, Pi looks at humans race’s continuing pursuit to
find a mathematical or scientific meaning in everything around us.
Wow! I can't believe no one is here talking about this movie. It's unrivaled in terms of talking points, so I'll get the ball rolling. I first encountered Pi in the summer of 2008. I came for the math, left with a headache and disappointment. The black and white style combined with the noise of the film was a major detractor to what really could have amounted to a great character study otherwise. The shoestring budget likely played a major part for the oblong style.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it that I'm not seeing in this film? How should I go about watching it to see its brilliance? I read over the plot summary on Wikipedia and I liked what I read. I was so frustrated with the style that I didn't even care to think about the major theme of the movie: Obsession is a prickly beast, while ignorance is bliss. Which was told elegantly in the plot summary.
Right now, it seems like the only thing that could possibly save this film for me is if it had a cameo by Richard Parker.