'The Zero Theorem' A Review

The Zero Theorem is a scifi distopian film about a mathematical equation proving the non-existence of God. Qohen Leth(Christoph Waltz) is a programmer for a non-descript digital company Mancom. He refers to himself in the plural, is in a constant state of existential crisis, and is anxiously waiting for a phone call that will give him his "purpose". Management(Matt Damon) assigns Qohen the zero theorem because of his eccentricities, as Qohen works on the theorem he loses his grip on reality. Characters enter and influence Qohen to varying degrees then exit, most notably Bainsley(Mélanie Thierry) as the love interest. Maybe all the characters are tools of Management, maybe not. Maybe there's a point to the film, maybe not.

The only cohesive element of the film is its art direction. The narrative is incoherent flitting from storyline to storyline so quickly nothing is established, nothing is built, nothing actually happens. The pacing mirrors the high-speed digital culture it attempts to demean. You cannot help drawing comparisons to director Terry Gilliam's 1985 fresh and biting Brazil, The Zero Theorem however is unoriginal, borrowing heavily on the director's previous work and more recent films like Minority Report. It feels like a desperate regurgitation in an effort to find or invent inspiration. It is a failure.

Waltz as the lead is hamstrung. He plays reserve and neurosis with discomfort and is put in a position where he cannot unleash his tools- realism, articulation, charm. Thierry is the only watchable individual, transcending the disconnected material, and delivering something emotional and compelling. The rest of the cast is by varying degrees lost or seemingly on-their-own doing what they can with what little actionable substance they are given. 

An additional detractor was terrible sound mixing. Ambient noise, dialogue, and score melded together too often to a cacophonous boom that made what was happening unintelligible. If this was deliberate what is the point, if not it's insulting.

Pretentious aspirations, substantively empty.

Don't See It.