Rating: 
Summary: GENIUS and MADNESS
Review: I think this is one of those pieces that investigates the thin line between madness and genius, a favorite theme of literature and film for I don't know how long. And this film explores this theme in its own highly original and captivating way. It reminds me a little of Ingmar Bergman's "Persona" in its visual style--high contrast black and white (also looks like a certain trend in fashion photography, blowing out the whites and blocking up the blacks, certainly a very appealing look). The cinematography is actually astounding. This film is a real pleasure to look at--definitely worth a close look for any would be cinematographers out there. This is a brilliant, artistic, and meaningful movie. It creates a bizarre, highly subjective world--you really get the feeling that you are in Max's head. And the blend of mathematics, numerology, chaos theory, and the stock market is highly compelling. The movie reads like a multi-layered short story, or short novel. Definitely experimental cinema. Another reviewer's comparison to "Eraserhead" is quite apt--however, I beg to differ with that reviewer and state that this film does not fail to make a statement. It's not necessarily about society--it's too hermetic for that--but it is about the mind, personality... It functions as a statement on genius, creativity, the artistic process... I'm probably gonna see it again just because it was so nice to look at!
Rating:
Summary: Art at work
Review: In a decade full of comercialism this one doesn't try to sell you a happy meal while holding your hand throughout the film. "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds." -The Rastaman (Marley)
Rating: 
Summary: Tragically unhip
Review: Not nearly as clever or deep as it thinks it is. Silly, immature, rambling and overly impressed with itself, yet remarkable in the accuracy with which it has gauged the kind of loser sub-culture at which it is aimed. Grow up, everybody. There is so much less here than meets the eye. It is dark depressing bubble gum. Absolutely nothing of any substance whatsoever.
Rating:
Summary: excellent performance!
Review: This was my favorite movie of all time because it is not onlyone of the most brilliant stories I have ever witnessed but also it isso hard to follow it makes your brain think. I definitely recommend this title and many others that dare to test the limits of the human mind and soul. Try a clockwork orange, fear and loathing in las vegas, The Matrix, the truman show, and Radiohead's seven television commercials.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie
Review: I must say that I came into the theater (when I first saw it) with a little bit of skeptisism, but am I glad I saw it. To be truthfull, this isn't really a movie about mathematics, and I'm not sure that it matters that the mathematics doesn't make sense. This is a movie about what someone's life's work means to him, and how he won't let go of it even though it is apparently killing him and others around him. This turns out to be a particularly frightening film, which is fueled by sequences in which the main character is lost in a waking dream sequence. Other than the title sequence, this is a rather quiet movie which is also quietly stressful. I suggest you rent it first, to see if you like it or not. You'll either love it or hate it.
Rating:
Summary: Different, but very good
Review: This film is very different from a typical Hollywood movie, but overall I enjoyed it very much. Although at times the movie is on shakey mathmatical grounds, it is still a must see for anyone with an interest in math. If you also enjoyed this movie, I would recommend reading Godel, Escher, Bach.
Rating:
Summary: great filk in a summer full of "american pie"
Review: this movie was very well put together, and certainly is a refreshing turn from typical holleywood garbage... it just goes to show that it doesn't take $30,000,000 and a "thrid eye blind" song to bring patrons.
Rating:
Summary: Not for everyone
Review: Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, but I have to disagree with the reviewer bellow. The reason why some people do not enjoy these kind of movies is because they want the story to be plain told to them. They don't like to sit for a moment and try to visualize the idea behind the whole "gibberish". This movie isn't about society, like the reviewer bellow so much wanted it to be. It is a movie about a mathematician's search for order within chaos. A search for the patterns in every object in nature, a movie about the complexities of the most insignificant things. Also, you'll learn some interesting aspects of mathematical, philosophical and artistical thought. I'm not a spiritual person, but this movie will be of interest to both, spiritual and non-spiritual people.
Rating:
Summary: would have been nice if there was a shred of plot
Review: A computer geek mathematician hides from society in this would-be-artsy-fartsy-reverse-print...well I don't know what the heck it is. When his computer spits out a strange number while self-destructing the protagonist automatically assumes that it is the meaning of life. Well, of course it is. Then the Hassidics get involved and explain to him that the 216 digit number is actually the name of God. Well, of course it is. Makes sense to me. All the while we're waiting for some kind of payoff, especially since this film has been positively reviewed. What we get is the main character standing in a white room, and then drilling into the side of his head. What the hell does that mean? He saw God? He doesn't want the number in his head anymore? He has a headache? Your guess is as good as mine. This movie is filled to the brim with dropping things out of nowhere and not explaining them, or doing anything with them. This is a sixth grade creative writing story set to celluloid. About the only thing I liked was the opening title sequence. The music, sort of new wave techno promises a fresh new story, it lied. The tone plays like a cross between Brazil and Erasorhead. The problem is, both of those films had something to say about society, this one has nothing to offer except that maybe computer geeks really ARE as weird as we're afraid they are. I can't emphasize enouph how annoying it was to have things brought up and then dropped. The swirls, what significance were they? How did they have anything to do with 216? Or the mark on his head, what was it? What did it mean? Was it an ancient symbol? Did it have some mathematical significance? What was his relationship with the woman? Why after everyone kidnaps him do they suddenly decide to let him go? Why did the old man die? They said he had a stroke but did it have something to do with 216? If so (which they somewhat imply) how in the hell can a number written on a piece of paper kill you? Why does he shave his head? Why is this character such a weirdo in the first place? We don't have any clue to his background or why he mistrusts people at all "He just DOES!" I suspect the writer/director would say. I suppose this is the same response a sixth grader would give about his creative writing story. Well, I'm an adult, and I expect a little more. This is my advise, rewrite the story. This time actually try to tie things together. Don't just bring things up and drop them. Examples: swirls, mark on head, THE STOCK MARKET! I spent the entire movie thinking he was going to raid the stockmarket, at the end they just drop it completely! Now that you've written a coherant story, add a little character to your character! Now how about an ending. The end is very important because it JUSTIFIES SPENDING MY TIME WITH YOUR STORY!!! How about paying off some of your promises? Let's see him have some devine introspection and rattle off something profound, or ruin the stock market (that would have been really cool and apocolyptic). Put a little time into it next time, or is this really the best you can do? If so, you're through.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film!
Review: This movie was fantastic. I loved it. It causes the same kind of thought patterns in the audience as 2001 and Bladerunner did. Mathematicians, Stock Traders, Dreamers will love the film. Great musical score also.
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