The Zero Theorum

18 March 2019

The Zero Theorum 2013

• Director: Terry Gilliam
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Christoph Waltz, Davis Thewliss, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Peter Stormare, Ben Whishaw, Melanie Thierry, Tilda Swinton, Lucas Hedges
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Christoph Waltz – Spectre, Inglourious Basterds
• David Thewliss – Wonder Woman, Legend, Macbeth, The Theory of Everything, Harry Potter, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Kingdom of Heaven, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith, The Big Lebowski, Naked, Life Is Sweet
• Sanjeev Bhaskar – Unforgotten, Curry Nam Nam, Absolutely Anything, Doctor Who, Notting Hill
• Peter Stormare – The Brothers Grimm, Chocolat, Dancer in the Dark, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Awakenings
• Ben Whishaw – London Spy, Spectre, Suffragette, Skyfall, Cloud Atlas, Richard II, The Tempest, Bright Star, Brideshead Revisited
• Melanie Thierry – Henry V
• Tilda Swinton - Hail Caesar, Snowpiercer, Only Lovers Left Alive, Moonrise Kingdom, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, Michael Clayton, Broken Flowers, Young Adam, Adaption, The Deep End, Orlando
• Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea, Moonrise Kingdom, Dan in Real Life
• Why? Sci fi
• Seen: 15 March 2019

             A man emerges from a computer-filled multi-locked cathedral into an advert-dominated future London. He thinks he’s dying. The medical committee says he’s not. His request for a disability discharge is denied. He fears parties but goes to them. He just wants to be home to await the phone call he’s waited for all his life, the one that will tell him the meaning of everything. Or something.

       Is that enough to indicate that this is a weird film? It’s Terry Gilliam so it should come as no surprise.

       It has the visual coolness of The Fifth Element but sorry, I’m not in the mood for absurd meaning of life films this evening. Real life is absurd enough.

       Maybe another time.

2* of 5