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Review

While owing a certain debt to Kafka and Eraserhead, Pi is an original paranoia story about, well, numbers. Gullette plays Max, a math genius who for two decades has been trying to find a pattern in the stock market. He may have stumbled onto a key number that holds the answers to many problems. But can he handle this knowledge? Max is also prone to headaches and hallucinations that allow this film to be marketed as a thriller. Full of intense music and a bracingly fast black-and-white camera, Pi effectively captures a state of mind where a little too much is going on. Detracting from the brilliance are some familiar freshman flaws by director Aronofsky, including an inconsistent pace and an excessive voiceover. When Pi settles into its groove, however, it is something to behold.