IMDb > Pi (1998)
Pi
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Pi (1998) -- A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.
Pi (1998) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   49,397 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Darren Aronofsky (written by)
Darren Aronofsky (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Pi on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 July 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
faith in chaos more
Plot:
A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
9 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(58 articles)
Rock stars storm the movie soundtrack world
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 19 November 2009, 1:30 PM, PST)

CinemaSpy's Week-End TV Recap (Nov. 14)
 (From CinemaSpy. 14 November 2009, 9:10 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Inventive, sharp, *different* cinema more (530 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sean Gullette ... Maximillian Cohen

Mark Margolis ... Sol Robeson

Ben Shenkman ... Lenny Meyer
Pamela Hart ... Marcy Dawson
Stephen Pearlman ... Rabbi Cohen

Samia Shoaib ... Devi

Ajay Naidu ... Farrouhk
Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao ... Jenna
Espher Lao Nieves ... Jenna's Mom
Joanne Gordon ... Mrs. Ovadia

Lauren Fox ... Jenny Robeson
Stanley Herman ... Moustacheless Man

Clint Mansell ... Photographer
Tom Tumminello ... Ephraim
Henri Falconi ... Kaballah Scholar
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
3,14159265358 (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some disturbing images.
Runtime:
84 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
No location permits were secured for any of the scenes filmed. The crew had to have one man constantly serving as a lookout for police so they could stop filming if needed. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Max' ticker displays some stock prices in thirds, but real stock prices only used halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, and so on. more
Quotes:
Sol Robeson: Have you met Archimedes? The one with the black spots, you see? You remember Archimedes of Syracuse, eh? The king asks Archimedes to determine if a present he's received is actually solid gold. Unsolved problem at the time. It tortures the great Greek mathematician for weeks - insomnia haunts him and he twists and turns in his bed for nights on end... more
Movie Connections:
References The Killers (1946) more
Soundtrack:
Drippy more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
65 out of 79 people found the following comment useful.
Inventive, sharp, *different* cinema, 11 March 2002
Author: Aidan McGuinness from Dublin, Ireland

After seeing "Pi", you realise that a lot of Hollywood producers should be automatically fired. Why? Because you can make a great film like this for only $60,000 whereas turkeys like "Waterworld" cast tens of millions of dollars. Go figure.

"Pi" is about the obsession of maths genius Max Cohen (Sean Gullette), trying to find a number, a mathematical connection, that underlies all things but particularly the stock market. His obsession however begins to drive him nuts, with constant headaches and paranoid delusions (or are they...).

What's most striking about this movie is it's *different*. It isn't really comparable to any other movie I know, in terms of plot or of style. Aronofsky shows an incredible ability to work with a budget and yet still produce a visually striking movie - the movie doesn't suffer from being shot in fuzzy black & white. The paranoia of the man character is enhanced greatly by the use of a "snorricam" - a camera mounted to the body so that the viewer is attached to Max as he walks. Sharp, extremely kinetic cuts add to the frenetic energy and display what we would later see in "Requiem for a Dream". The whole intense, brooding nature is helped by the black & white imagery never allowing for any colour to seep through, enhanced by the fuzzy dream-like quality of the movie that reflects Cohen's delusions. It's no wonder that Aronofsky came away from Sundance as the Best Director for his amazing work here with such limited means.

The plot is interesting but the number Cohen seeks (which is not Pi - Pi is just used because it is a universal invariant like that which Cohen wants) isn't the centre of the movie. It's about obsession and how, as Max's friend points out, it can drive you to see things everywhere. Sure there are technical inaccuracies in it, but it's played with an assured sense of conviction, ably acted by unknown Gullette.

"Pi" is very interesting because it stands far out from the crowd. It's not one for those who think "Pearl Harbour" is the way films should be made - it's too different for that. A great debut for a director, who went on to surpass this with his superb next project, "Requiem for a Dream". 9/10.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pi (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Answer to your question. cosmintgv
The scariest movie i've ever seen. now THAT'S powerful cinema. BhmnRhaps124
A few questions MJB784
Not a good movie for math people nealyboy
Tetsuo influence? PollyGene
Camera used? Mittelschmerzmeister
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