== A BEAUTIFUL MIND == Released in 2001 and starring Russell Crowe. This film falls into the genre Biography/Drama, and is loosely based on the biography of mathematician John Forbes Nash, written by Sylvia Nasar. Directed by Ron Howard, and for which he received an Academy award for Best film of 2001. The film chronicles the life of highly regarded mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr, who throughout his life suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. They say that between sanity and madness, lies a very fine line, and the main protagonist shows us with great clarity just how fine a line this can be. Genius in one form or another can tip the scale between the two. The mind is a mysterious, and delicate object, as I myself found when studying for my degree. You can only push yourself so far before something gives, and intense commitment to one subject can all too easily result in complete mental breakdown, and John Forbes Nash (Russel Crowe) gives us an insight into the mysterious workings of the mind when pushed to it's limits. The film begins by concentrating on the early years of John Forbes Nash when at Princeton University. Nash is an intense personality, insular, and socially inept, and he is completely focused on trying to discover a totally original idea that will turn the world of Mathematics upside down. He rarely socialises with his fellow friends at Uni, but instead spends his time in his room manically scribbling formula within his many textbooks. He does however forge a close friendship with his room mate Charles (Paul Bettany), who tries to draw him out of himself. When Nash does venture out to the campus bar on occasions, he is received with ridicule, and perceived as an oddity. His character is obsessive compulsive, and is completely owned and driven by his mathematical genius. One day he discovers the new concept he has been searching for, and his innovative new theory is recognised, and highly acclaimed, and he is offered a post at MIT. An ideal job for Nash, it would seem, as his initial duties would be dealing with code breaking for the US government. Increasingly Nash becomes more and more introverted and heavily focused on this new job, which takes all his energy, and he becomes detached and withdrawn from society even more. He then meets a beautiful and intelligent woman, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). He falls in love with her, and makes her his wife. She strikes a chord with him, and he seems to be able to relate to her moreso than other people he is in contact with. But with his increasing pressure to crack the intricate codes for the government, she soon takes a back seat, and is a buffer for his black moods,depression, and increasingly erratic behaviour. He begins to encounter psychotic episodes, and his medication at this stage begins to bring on intellectual paralysis, and his decision to stop taking them, leads him down a dangerous road. You begin to wonder at this point if he is losing his grip on reality, and the slow breakdown of character makes compelling viewing indeed. I found myself fascinated with this character study, and the fact that it was a true story added weight to the impact this film was having on me. What takes place next is the story of Nashs disintegration of personality. Often painful to watch, this subject is handled delicately within the film, and brings much sympathy to the main protagonist. Russell Crowe does an excellent job of portraying the man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He shows Nash leading his daily life, whilst maintaining his mental illness. It made me think of all the people out there under similar circumstance. What a painful existence this must be, to lead your whole life under such a handicap. I should imagine this role took quite a lot out of him, as he gave everything to the part, and I felt a great empathy towards his character. A fantastic job of characterisation. He even insisted he was made to look as much like John Forbes Nash as possible, and the make-up department made up a special silicone skin in the likeness of Nash, and Crowe would wear it many hours a day whilst filming. He was also fitted with dentures to provide more of an 'Overbite'... Russell Crowe was put up for 'Best leading actor' for his role in this film, at the Academy Awards, and I feel he should have won this award hands down, but he did in fact win a BAFTA for Best Actor 2001. There are various characters that interact with him throughout the film. His best friend Charles, and his niece Marcee, whom Nash adores. The mysterious Department of Defense agent, William Parcher. Who appears sporadically in key points of the film. The cast is fairly small in the main, and this is pretty much a one man show, as far as I am concerned. I found the film fascinating. A brilliant biopic account of the Nobel prize winning mathematician. Sensitively handled and portrayed by Crowe, and a lucid account of a man's decline into madness. This is a film that needs to be seen. It won four Academy Awards, including best film of 2001. Never boring, this film makes the subjects of both mathematics, and mental illness interesting and informative viewing.- The running time is 135 minutes BBFC rating is: PG-13 for intense thematic material, sexual content and violence.
Starring Russell Crowe Jennifer Connelly Ed Harris Paul Bettany
Directed by Ron Howard Produced by Brian Grazer Ron Howard Written by Sylvia Nasar (book), Akiva Goldsman Music by James Horner Cinematography Roger DeakinsThank you for reading. Electra 2008*
A Beautiful Mind [2002]
A Beautiful Mind is an award-winning movie if ever there was one. This biopic of
... more
mathematician John Forbes Nash is two parts Shine to one part Good Will Hunting. Scripted by Akiva Goldsman (Lost in Space) and directed by Ron Howard (The Grinch)--both t...
A Beautiful Mind [2002]
A Beautiful Mind is an award-winning movie if ever there was one. This biopic of
... more
mathematician John Forbes Nash is two parts Shine to one part Good Will Hunting. Scripted by Akiva Goldsman (Lost in Space) and directed by Ron Howard (The Grinch)--both t...
