π (also known as “Pi”) (1998 film)

Not without problems, but a success for the most part. The story—math whiz finds a brown note of a number that bricks man and machine, madness ensues—is grounded in just enough relatable reality to be horrifying rather than hokey while operating as sufficient springboard to ruminations about life, purpose, belief systems, and power structures, constructed as nightmarish sequences whose artistry and power are incalculably aided by Mansell’s score as well as the high contrast black and white that defines the picture. Some musings have the stink of 90s “makes you think” glurge to them, but “Pi” remains worthwhile.

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