A movie about a number theorist, not number theory

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 1999)

As Max Cohen's mentor Sol Robeson hinted at, we, as humans, simply can't understand some things. We're supposed to believe that a single man, even as ingenious as Max, can find one number that essentially unlocks the secrets of the universe? This is the most obvious flaw in this movie: it is logically implausible. At first, this bothered me because I thought, "This movie is about math, so why isn't it more accurate?" However, I realized that if I wanted a lesson on number theory, I wouldn't be watching an indie flick, so I sat back and enjoyed the ride. The acting wasn't the best, of course, and the plot had its share of holes. But when all is said and done, this was a unique and enjoyable film with interesting visuals and one of the best soundtracks to come out in a long time.