Pi the psychotronic classic written and directed by Darren Aronofsky returns to theaters via IMAX exclusive.

There are almost zero films that compare to the experience of Pi – Darren Aronofsky’s freshman feature. It came like bolt of lightening direct from the NYU film school, blasted into the fests, and quickly made it into indie theaters where maybe seven people watched it.

Pi is thoughtful and considerate as it moves to a hip hop electro sountrack – asking questions about god and science and sanity. All of it edited in a manner writer director Aronofsky labeled “hip-hop editing”. It is a cerebral fast paced sprint inside the head of a genius or a madman – or likely both.

Right out of the gate Aronofsky’s style and control of the medium was startling and fresh. Ruminative films are usually slow, or moderated, in editing camera work, and sound track –  there are many examples of this, a favorite being The Seventh Seal. Pi just felt new and unique.

This is not to say that there are no influences. Some of his whiplash editing and images drawn from Frank Miller’s groundbreaking graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. Aronofsky said of Pi that Shinya Tsukamoto’s wild experimental film “Tetsuo: Iron Man” was a major influence. The lead character, Max Cohen (played fearlessly by Sean Gullette), appears to be tangentially related to real life Wall Street investor and felon Martin A. Armstrong.

Pi  can easily be described as “an experience” film. Imagine 2001: A Space Odyssey moving to the rhythm of a hip hop beat. High praise that is deserved. Aronofsky has been put in a similar category as Kubrick many times. True enough, he is one of the few auteurs today who contractually has final cut on his films.

 

Pi will be re-released via IMAX on “Pi Day”, Tuesday March 21st.