Paul Giamatti's character is clever. The filmmakers make sure the audience are aware of this fact with a few subtle hints. First of all, the character wears glasses. Second of all, there are a lot of mathematical equations scrawled on any flat surface near him. And finally, in full view of the camera, taking pride of place on a prominent shelf in Giamatti's office, is a book called Einstein, despite the fact that the character is a seismologist and not a physicist. Why would a book on Einstein be in his office? Because Paul Giamatti is clever, that's why. He's clever.
