Zero Theorem looks more like a series of ideas and visions thrown together that never quite organise themselves into a film.
Gilliam has said that when he made what many consider his masterpiece Brazil in 1984 he was trying to show the world people were living in then. Watching Brazilagain today it looks eerily like a documentary of life in 2013.
Gilliam’s statement that The Zero Theorem is a glimpse of the world he believes we are living in in 2013. That world according to the director’s vision is dominated by big corporations that have taken over our existence. But unlike the wacky but brilliantly executed Brazil, this film is simply a series of visions and jokes that do not make up a coherent whole. Most problematic of all is that very few of the jokes are actually funny.
The storyline centres around a reclusive computer genius that is working on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the propose of existence- the Zero Theorem. But he is constantly plagued by doubt and angst.
Gilliam has said that Pat Rushin’s script intrigued him because of its many philosophical and existential ideas. Gilliam asks if we live in a overly controlled world or a world of chaos and the answer seems to be chaos. The film is set slightly in the future in a world that Gilliam sees as where our world of today which is dominated by big corporations and computer seems to be headed.
The film is a British, French, Romanian coproduction that was shot over 36 days in Bucharest and sets and costumes are wildly colourful and wacky in the usual Gilliam style. This incoherent fantasy vision is the film’s strongest point. The lack of 3-D and the less slick style special effects work in the film’s favour setting it apart form the latest Hollywood fare. The bizarre office where the protagonists work is a Gilliam vision gone wild.
Christof Waltz plays Qohen a computer genius who works for Mancom a global corporation that has replaced government and seems to rule the world. Waltz carries out seemingly meaningless computer work for Mancom and ironically dreams that one day the phone will ring and someone will reveal to him the meaning of life. Fans of Waltz might have a difficult time recognizing him with is shaved head and bizarre persona.
The film manages to haul in some big names with Matt Damon putting in a short appearance as Management. When Qohen meets up with Damon at a party and begs to be able to work from home instead of listening to his pleas Management decides to send a sex worker played by Melanie Thierry. Thierry is one of the bright spots in the film and she comes across as really funny but fails to cure Qohen’s angst over finding the meaning of life – the solution to the Zero Theorem.
Tilda Swinton is another star who turns in a very funny performance in the film as a crazy online psychologist Dr Shrink-Rom.
Overall there are a number of funny gags and a lot of bizarre looking sets and costumes but this never adds up to make a satisfying whole as a film.
Directed by Terry Gilliam
UK, Romania, France
Cast: Christoph Waltz, Matt Damon, Mélanie Thierry, David Thewlis, Lucas Hedges, Ben Whishaw, Tilda Swinton
