Pi (1998)

A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writers:

Darren Aronofsky, Darren Aronofsky (story)

Stars:

Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman

8 wins & 12 nominations.

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 B. Herman	...	Moustacheless Man (as Stanley Herman)
Clint Mansell	...	Photographer
Tom Tumminello	...	Ephraim
Henri Falconi	...	Kaballah Scholar

Storyline

In NYC's Chinatown, recluse math genius Max (Sean Gullette) believes "everything can be understood in terms of numbers," and he looks for a pattern in the system as he suffers headaches, plays Go with former teacher Sol Robeson (Mark Margolis), and fools around with an advanced computer system he's built in his apartment. Both a Wall Street company and a Hasidic sect take an interest in his work, but he's distracted by blackout attacks, hallucinations, and paranoid delusions..

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | the letter pi | go | mathematician | headache | 

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Taglines:

There will be no order, only chaos

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing images

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Darren Aronofsky's audio commentary, the subway scenes were illegally filmed to save $18,000 a night.

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Goofs

Max tells the Caballists that they've probably written down every 216 digit number. He must know this is impossible. Millions of supercomputers working since the Big Bang couldn't make a dent in writing down all the possibilities.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Maximillian Cohen: 9:13, Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six I did. The doctors didn't know if my eyes would ever heal. I was terrified, alone in that darkness. Slowly, daylight crept in through the bandages, and I could see. But something else had changed inside of me. That day I had my first headache.

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Crazy Credits

In the original script, the man seen singing on the subway was referred to as the "Moustache Man". But since the part went to the clean-shaven Stanley B. Herman, the final movie credits list him as "Moustacheless Man".

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Alternate Versions

The DVD also contains a 2-minute test of the "Snorricam" with Guillete walking on the street and through a market. The "Snorricam" is the camera used in Pi which follows Max from head on, with his orientation always in the center. Also, it contains a small scene with Max playing with Jenna's Slinky. Other extra's inclued a music video and a behind the scenes look.

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Connections

Featured in 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998)

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Soundtracks

Angel
Performed by Massive Attack
Written by Robert Del Naja (as Del Naja) / Grant Marshall (as Marshall) / Andrew Vowles (as Vowels) / Horace Andy (as Hinds)
Published by Songs of Polygram International, Inc.(BMI)/BMG Music Publishing LTD.(PRS) Admin. by BMG Songs Inc.(ASCAP)
Massive Attack appears courtesy of Circa Records LTD.

User Reviews

Finding God through the ancient language of Mathematics

Pi is the oddest, hippest, most chilling account of the descent into the abyss.

Following mathematical clues derived from an analysis of the stock market, Maximillian Cohen begins his descent into madness as he attempts to discover the nature of everything through the peculiar numerical entity known as Pi.

Thrilling enough, but then combine with generous amounts of Kaballistic mysticism, black and white footage and a soundtrack like an audible fractal, and you have a sensory snare which drags you along for the ride into Max's impending breakdown.

Obsession has never been so exciting.

Pi is an utterly gut-wrenching, mind expanding phenomema. If you have ever wondered about the universe, God or the nature of insanity, Pi will take you where you don't want to go.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

3.14159265358

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,069, 12 July 1998

Gross USA:

$3,221,152

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,221,152

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harvest Filmworks, Truth and Soul Pictures, Plantain Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1