Overseas slice of Life Of Pi flips Hollywood formula
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Buy SPH photosLOS ANGELES (AP) - In mathematical terms, divide the circumference of the world by its diameter, and you have pi. In Hollywood terms, add a United Nations mix of ingredients and you have the blockbuster Life Of Pi.
With 11 Academy Awards nominations - second only to Lincoln with 12 - and the sort of global box-office receipts normally reserved for superheroes, Life Of Pi is one of the most unusual megahits ever to hit the big-screen. Approaching US$600 million (S$742 million) at the box office worldwide, the film is by far the top-grosser among the nine best-picture nominees - with US$200 million more than Les Miserables and Django Unchained, its closest rivals.
Life Of Pi has action, suspense and spectacle, but it's a thoughtful, contemplative, internalised film, a philosophical and even cryptic story that touched something in the worldwide psyche resulting in business in the realm of more traditional Hollywood hits such as The Hunger Games, Men In Black 3 and Brave.
Though backed by 20th Century Fox, the film has an international sensibility that Life Of Pi director Lee Ang hopes will gradually become part of everyday business in Hollywood, which has a long history of telling tales - even overseas ones - with an American perspective.
