Wow. My head must have been buried in the sand because, aside from a few cursory glances at a poster here and there around the net, I had been more or less unfamiliar with the new Terry Gilliam film, The Zero Theorem. Not anymore. This new U.S. trailer is fantastic. It’s utterly striking and unique and reminds us of what Gilliam is capable of. I’m so relieved someone gave him some money to play around with again.

The Zero Theorem stars Christoph Waltz as Qohen Leth, a computer hacker who searches for the meaning of life while being distracted by Management, a shadowy figure from an Orwellian corporation; Melanie Thierry, Tilda Swinton, and David Thewlis also star. The film hits iTunes on August 19th and limited theaters on September 19th. Hit the jump for The Zero Theorem trailer! As you’ll see below, it’s pretty great, right? I like how the tone marries the ache of searching with an element of whimsy, but not the annoying forced whimsy on display in something like Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs. Gilliam’s film feels like the kind of work that realizes just how many notes there are in life, which is rare for sci-fi. It’s not an “either or” case of dour versus upbeat, the two can exist together in a rainbow of combinations. In any case, what’s your favorite Terry Gilliam film? The Fisher King? Twelve Monkeys? Brazil? Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas? Lost In La Mancha? Sound off in the comments.

Click over to Apple to watch in HD.

An eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence – or the lack thereof -once and for all. However, it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Zero Theorem: