Pi is Darren Aronofsky's first full length movie which he both wrote and directed. I have shared before my love for Aronofsky's work in Requiem for a Dream and his later Black Swan (which he did not write but rather directed) and Pi is no exception to the "legacy" its successors create.
Pi, along with being the first of Aronofsky's films is also the first of his I saw. After seeing his use of black and white film, despite being in the late 90s (1998), I was captivated. The contrast draws the viewer into the mayhem and confusion of every scene. The use of camera techniques also forces the viewer to ask what is reality and what is a dream or a hallucination.
Sean Gullette, whom Aronofsky using again in Requiem for a Dream, is the main protagonist and our narrator. He believe that numbers exist everywhere in nature (I am inclined to agree with him) and is currently searching for a pattern in the infinite number Pi. This movie is very mind bending in its ability to let the viewer figure out many key elements for themselves like deciphering reality and fiction, and determining the goals of key characters and why they are involved. Many situations are not fully explained and it is left to the viewer to create an ending, usually this may be considered a downfall but I rather enjoyed it, the director is not force feeding the audience and certain open ended scenes led me to the conclusion they did not actually happen.
Suspense was also very well captured in Pi. There is one scene in which Max watches out his door for a package to be delievered. The camera shows the actions happening in the hallway as suspicious men drop the package off. The use of the peep hole and camera cuts is exquiste and captivating, the audience is also caught up in Max's own suspicions as he dead bolts the door multiple times.
Another scene takes place in the subway, where Max sees a man across the tracks, standing with his back towards the camera. We see blood dripping off the man's hand and Max suspiciously eyes him. The man disappears when a train passes by but later Max finds a brain. Just as imporatant as the visual aspects of this scene, sound played an important part. The blood itself is heard dripping to the floor and echoing in the otherwise empty station. We also hear the static and music that acocmpany Max's headache (which is found in many scenes). This scene is never fully explained yet it is possibly the scene that sticks with me most. Yet another is the man Max runs into in a subway cart. The man sings but disappears after a moment. Whether the man is real or not, and why he was there is never revealed yet the protagonist's mental stability is proved to be servery deteriorating.
Another interesting element in the movie is the repetition of dialogue. On multiple occasions Max reminisces about the time he was six and he stared into the sun. "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." This quote both introduces the movie and ends it, a powerful technique into taking the story full circle and showing the changes in the character. The viewer is also greeted with the sensation that this story has somehow made Max who is is and creates the entirety of events we've just witnessed. Exceptional beautiful and unique in my opinion.
I have said it before and I will say it again, rewatchablitity is perhaps the most important part of a movie. This movie is definitely rewatchable with a strong story line, strong acting, and unbelievably amazing directing. I highly recommend checking it out.
Overall Review: MUST WATCH!
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