Home
search
more | tips
SHOP PI
Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr
IMDb > Pi (1998)
Pi
[Add to My Movies]
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Pi (1998)

advertisement
Register or login to rate this title
User Rating: 7.5/10 (39,400 votes)
Photos (see all 36 | slideshow) Videos

Overview

Director:
Darren Aronofsky
Writers:
Darren Aronofsky (story) &
Sean Gullette (story) ...
more
Release Date:
10 July 1998 (USA) more view trailer
Genre:
Thriller | Sci-Fi more
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 (warning! may contain spoilers)
Awards:
9 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Williams Goes Below (From WENN. 26 January 2001)
User Comments:
Inventive, sharp, *different* cinema more

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 ... Farroukh
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
Ari Handel ... Kabbala Scholar
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
3,14159265358 (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some disturbing images.
Runtime:
84 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Hebrew
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 2% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The number Max is searching for is 216 digits long. 216 is 6x6x6; 666 is the "number of the beast" according to the Book of Revelation. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Max indicates that he medicates himself with "Promazine 'HCI'." The proper name of the drug is "Promazine HCl," where the HCl stands for hydrogen chloride. The error likely occurred when either Max or a filmmaker mistook a lowercase "L" for a capital "I" on a bottle or prescription. more
Quotes:
Maximillian Cohen: Studying the pattern made Euclid conscious of itself. I had to... Before it died it spit out the number. That consciousness is the number?
Sol Robeson: No, Max. It's only a nasty bug.
Maximillian Cohen: It's more than that, Sol.
Sol Robeson: No, it's not. It's a dead end. There's nothing there.
Maximillian Cohen: It's a door, Sol. It's a door.
Sol Robeson: A door at the front of a cliff. You're driving yourself over the edge.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
A Low Frequency Inversion Field more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
43 out of 54 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.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Pi (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Other pi movies jbarker135
Symbolism Of The Ants samefein
Why did the Jews wanted the code? rock_soul
What a queer movie deathwalking12
was anyone else waiting for 42 to pop up? eds-poofed-hair
great movie svkurt
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Twelve Monkeys Halloween Enemy of the State Requiem for a Dream Jacob's Ladder
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Thriller section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.