Film No. 34 (2014) May 10th. 11.00 AM LUNA Leederville.
There are no surprises in this latest contribution to cinema by Terry Gilliam. The Zero Theorem is colourful, eclectic, futuristic, thought provoking but more importantly asks the question Gilliam so often asks; what is the meaning of human existence? Find the Zero Theorem and all will be answered; thus Gilliam uses the tortured character of Qohen (Christopher Waltz)to take us on this journey.
Waltz is brilliant in Theorem. We leave the cinema carrying some of his baggage after watching him battle with his lustful thoughts and the pressures of The Corporation. Like Sam Lowry (Jonathan Price)in Brazil, Quohen is being used and then ultimately blamed by Management (Matt Damon) when all is not what it seems.
Gilliam began his career as "that American animator" with Monty Python. His film sets' always give off a "beyond belief" effect. Jane Fonda gave us Barbarella in the sixties, Melaine Thierry is Bainsley, the object of Qohen's desires. They go on dates, electronically, but Qohen wonder's whether they are but figments of his imagination. The surreal beach scenes are typical examples of Gilliam's "beyond belief" world.
The film is being criticised, world wide, for being cluttered and meaningless. I'd agree on both fronts but there is something mesmerising about Gilliam's style. He certainly doesn't solve the recurring question he asks but he brings to the screen another film full of ideas and sumptuous images. But not everyone enjoys Gilliam's style. 9GUMS
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