A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Beautiful Movie!
The marketing behind "A Beautiful Mind" is awesome.
Sure, they are trying to sell the movie, but they do
not even begin to set you up for what you are about
to see. I don't want to say anymore. I don't want to
spoil this movie. I will tell a little more about the
film, nothing that will spoil it, and then there will
be a link at the bottom of the page. Click on that link
only if you've seen the movie - or if you're one of
those sickos that likes film's spoiled for you.
Do not let anyone tell you about this movie. If
you hear anyone talking about it, walk away.
"A Beautiful Mind" is based on a true story of
John Nash, a Nobel Prize winning mathematician who went
to Princeton in the 50's. While there, he came up with
some revolutionary economic theories that still have
relevance in the modern marketplace. The mathematician
gets drawn into government work as a code breaker. He
also meets and falls in love with a beautiful woman
and begins a family. When his two worlds collide, all
hell breaks loose.
Russell Crowe plays Nash perfectly. Crowe checks
in knowing he is in thespian heaven, playing a brilliant
man who is also somewhat neurotic and perhaps partially
autistic. Crowe may base the character on a weird accent,
strange vocal patterns and odd body movement, but he
is nonetheless brilliant in the role. It is called "A
Beautiful Mind" for a reason and Crowe's work is as
cerebral as it is physical. I am no big fan of Crowe's
but he does spectacular work here. Revolutionary.
His secondary cast is awesome as well. Again, I
am no big Jennifer Connelly fan, but she is awesome
here. This is a role she can really sink her teeth into
and she does quite well with it. Adding this to a canon
that already includes the fantastic "Requiem for a Dream,"
Connelly is beginning to establish herself as a young
actress to watch for. Ed Harris is equally wonderful
here. Again, with his self-made "Pollack" persona under
his hat, Harris continues to be an actor of deep interest.
As the most predominant sideline characters to Crowe
here, these two do fantastic work each keying off of
an important aspect of Nash's character.
Other actors of note appear even though they have
little to do. Adam Goldberg, one of my very favorite
young actors, has nothing more than a small role but
still works wonders here. It's awesome to see him with
his "Dazed and Confused" costar Anthony Rapp again.
Judd Hirsch, Christopher Plummer, Paul Bettany, Josh
Lucas, and Austin Pendleton may have smaller roles too,
but their work is integral to the success of the film.
The chemistry Crowe has with every member of the secondary
cast is quite nice. And it's certainly good to see director
Ron Howard's dad, Rance, as well as character actor
Roy Thinnes in cameo roles.
As for Howard, his work here is phenomenal. This
is simply his best film since "Apollo 13." Like that
earlier film, Howard uses special effects and interesting
visuals to convey what might otherwise be very dry information
in "A Beautiful Mind." Crowe's Nash is a code breaker
and sees information in unique ways, so Howard has to
make this idea apparent to us. He does so using perfectly
obvious yet unique cinematics. We see the world as Nash
does. We see how his mind words through the visuals
Howard supplies us. The use of geometric shapes, prisms
and CGI effects to convey the calculating mind of Nash
is spectacular.
If Howard seems to have any problem here, it is
that Akiva Goldsmith's script does not give us enough
information regarding Nash at times. His early childhood,
which could be important to the plot, is really never
discussed. And the theorem that Nash creates in college,
the basis of his whole career, is never really exposed
to us. Sure, these problems do not lessen the film really,
but it would be nice if a little more information was
given.
Regardless, Crowe is simply wonderful in the film.
He leads us through his character and his story with
the craft of a master. This is an exceptional performance.
And Howard. WOW! What a remarkable filmmaker he yet
again proves himself to be. Great script, great acting,
brilliant direction. This film is a mind-blower! Expect
to here it mentioned several times when Oscar time comes
around.
And expect to see a nod for James Horner's score
as well. Horner riffs off of Phillip Glass, constructing
a score based as much on mathematics as the theme is.
The work from Horner is constructed yet flowing so that
it serves to amplify the thought of the movie while
accentuating the action in the perfectly traditional
sense of a Hollywood film score. It is wonderful.
This is an awesome film. Read no further if you
have not seen it. Go see it. It's astounding what this
film does.
If you have seen it - or you're just a party pooper
who lies to know the endings of movies, click
here.
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