Pi

This 1998 independent film is proof as to why the Hollywood film system needs an overhaul.  “Pi” is a highly original film which blends (wait for it) Chinese Go, number theory, chaos theory, the Kabbalah, OCD, paranoia, and the stock market in a techno, bass-thumping black and white cinematic boiling pot.

“Pi” follows mathematical genius Maximillian Cohen’s (Sean Gullette) attempts to find an order to the stock market’s seemingly unpredictable rises and falls.  During his investigation, he stumbles across a mythical 216-digit number that is seemingly so important that the CIA and Jewish Fundamentalists are prepared to kill him for this knowledge.  But Max is not without his own problems:  intense headaches, total paranoia and OCD tendencies rule his life away from math.

The film is surprisingly complex given that it only runs for 80 minutes, but it is completely entertaining throughout.  And we, the viewers, are never treated as stupid imbeciles, though after the film you may feel that way.  This film does require a basic knowledge of math out of the watcher.  The Pop-bubblegum moviegoers will not like this film, and that is probably for the same reason that I love this film.  There are none of the trappings of a big budget extravaganza:  no explosions, no bad guys dying.  This film is about one man’s life quest and how that affects him; he cares about no one but his work.

When finally he does discover the secret, he destroys it in error, thinking that his computer has made a mistake.  He knows that his life’s work has borne fruits, and that he has destroyed them.

This film is wonderfully shot in black and white, the script is very clever and articulate.  A true gem of modern independent filmmaking.