Ignorance is bliss (Pi (DVD))

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Pi (DVD)
Date:	31/07/01 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A brilliant example of a masterpiece on a budget in every sense, and a stunning writer/director debut by Aronofsky

Disadvantages: If this is Aronofsky's only film to date, then that *really* is a great shame

Darren Aronofsky's award winning debut of '98 is simply a brilliant example of a masterpiece on a budget. Full emphasis is on the story and the feelings, and nothing else; which is exactly what every film should give atleast.

This spooky thriller revolves around Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) a troubled man, after allegedly an ill advised stare at the sun as a boy, who descends into wanting to find a pattern in chaos; most notably in the ultimate system that is the stock market. A lifelong quest.

It's this search that sees Cohen descend into madness only slightly sedated by drugs, and then even propelled even more; some of the scenes in between are almost incoherent, ambiguous and spooky, and whether they make any sense is probably entirely up to you. The only clause to bare in mind is that the film's sub-heading is "faith in chaos".

And within Cohen's descent and discovery, a viscious Wall St. firm, and a Kabbalah sect are well intent on discovering the key that Cohen has stumbled upon for their own uses, which hots up the thriller aspect of it even more. But is this knowledge worth knowing, and is it beneficial, destructive, or simply madness?
The story is all mainly about emphasised feelings and scratching the auditory and visual nerves of disturbance so no one critique will be exact - genius.

You don't need to be a maths genius to appreciate the film, even though there is much dialogue of math in this number, pattern and chaos theme; especially between him and an old mentor/teacher - infact you can just agree if you don't know, and the sparse communication between the individuals means that you focus entirely on the grainy black and white claustrophobic visuals (including the discovery of an ant infested brain in a subway, jerky camera angles, and weird shots etc.) and Cohen's diary like narrations and paranoid actions to a frankly insane environment.

This film is a welcome 
9;huh?' inducing mindscrew as you go through Cohen on his ill and destructive journey. Not helped by some innocent co-stars who appear to be ultimately more disturbed than Cohen, atleast I feel that; even though that's irrelevant.

And to add to the slight unease in thia highly enjoyable and tense 80 minuter is a soundtrack that's been perfectly complemented and chosen by artists such as Aphex Twin, Orbital, Roni Size, Massive Attack, David Holmes, Autechre and Clint Mansell who scores the deranged drum 'n' bass credit sequences.

The additions particularly by Aphex Twin and Autechre pump up the tension on the already tense scenes.

Put simply 'Pi' is simply a brilliant debut, and a brilliantly crafted film in every sense, and your senses will appreciate the tingle that this film will give. A brillant story, brilliantly produced, and a must see. And most likely a must buy.

The VHS copy I've seen includes a pre-film like trailer complete with somewhat uneasy stuttery visuals of insects devouring eachother or going about their own business intermingled with film footage, binary-rolling-screen (the value of Pi, unlimited) visuals and Clint Mansell's deranged score.

The film is rated 15 and is also available on DVD. I suggest everybody check this out if they haven't already. It's about as tense and as familiar as the classic french flick 'La Hane (The Hate)' but infinitely more focussed and darker in it's own different space. Class.

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