Review of The Zero Theorem (2013) by Vincent N — 27 Aug 2014

The Zero Theorem is one of those films that challenges the mind just as much as it frustrates it. I spent the first thirty minutes completely confused as to what what was going on, and in truth... things become only marginally clearer.

The strange future world seems to have no rhyme or reason to it, but is pleasing to the eye. Christoph Waltz's character, Qohen Leth, is a sad jittery man who's later years have been spent searching for some grand purpose.

I'm not really sure what it is that he does for work, he's a number cruncher, that much I get, but for what? In any case, the quality of the acting is enough to weather the storm of questions.

The sets are truly unique, and I really enjoyed the idea of life as a social network, the inhabitants walk around with the ability link up to the mainframe of the city. Matt Damon plays a god like figure (called management) who's will determines most outcomes, and Mélanie Thierry is a beautiful call girl who represents Qohen's last chance at normality.

I was constantly enamored by the imagination on display here, I just wish I could grasp what it was really all about. Terry Gilliam's films often end in head scratching fashion, and this one is no different.