Film 47

Pi (1998)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Has Fentablar seen this before?: No.

This is the second work of Aronofsky's that I've seen (Requiem for a Dream) and is the second Aronofsky film that I truly enjoyed.

From the very opening moment, we meet Max Cohen and he explains that he is constantly looking for numerical patterns in every day life, believing that there is indeed a numerical pattern to everything. This is something that I, for one, can directly relate to. I've always believed that there is, ultimately, a logical structure to the universe we live in - as many others also obviously believe, otherwise noone would be looking for "the answer" to life, the universe and everything. Ok, ok - strike that, reverse it. We all know the answer is 42 - so, noone would be looking for "the question" to .... oh, forget it.

The point is that Max becomes so obsessed with finding one pattern in particular that everything becomes chaotic - for Max, because he seems unable to think of anything else; for Max's mentor, Sol, because Sol has gone down this road before and tries to warn Max while he himself rekindles his own efforts. It doesn't help that Max has two separate interested parties constantly watching him and trying to track his every movement in an effort to gain the knowledge once Max finds it.

Ultimately, this pattern revolves around one specific number that Max happened upon accidentally. The number itself doesn't perplex Max - it's what the number MEANS that he is trying to figure out. I must say that, as Pi progressed and Max contemplated this number, I contemplated right along with him and, frankly, it made my head hurt too.

Overall, this is another excellent work by Darren Aronofsky. Please watch it.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Plot Effectiveness: 5/5.

Cinematography/Shot Selection: 5/5. I was originally going to give this category a 4, but I realized that one of the things I didn't at first appreciate actually fits very well thematically, so I've since changed my mind. Obviously.

Overall Acting: 5/5.

Score/Soundtrack: 5/5.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5

~Fentablar~