Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A mathematical genius discovers a link between numbers and reality, and thus believes he can predict the future.
Aronofsky's debut is a singular, visceral experience — shot in high-contrast grainy 16mm black-and-white, it creates an almost physically oppressive atmosphere of paranoia and obsession that is wholly distinctive. The cinematography is genuinely exceptional, using extreme close-ups, dizzying camera movements and a claustrophobic visual grammar that few films match. Novelty is very high: the fusion of Kabbalah mysticism, number theory, chaos theory and psychological disintegration into a lo-fi thriller is a one-of-a-kind conception. Plot and acting are solid but not outstanding — the narrative is deliberately fragmented and Max Cohen is more archetype than fully rounded character, and Gullette's performance, while committed, is uneven. The ending is thematically coherent but somewhat abrupt and not fully satisfying as dramatic resolution.