Movie is too distant to get feel attached to any of the characters

Rating: 6/10 (31 January 2002)

"A Beautiful Mind" seems to buy into itself too much and leaves the viewer wondering what's going on. Unrealistic and unexplained sequences that are supposedly only in John Nash's head seem to get in the way of a story that could be interesting. We are never really told why Nash is famous or if he actually did work for the CIA. The love story between his wife (Jennifer Connely) is, again, not realistic in it's approach. Why does she fall in love with him and, more importantly, why do they get married and stay together. Russell Crowe is good as John Nash, but the distance created between the actor and the audience is too much. Jennifer Connely is good as well, but it is hard to figure her character out. I never felt attached to either character, and didn't want to root for them to overcome. Some of the scenes between the two are so over-the-top; the star-gazing scene is especially silly. The last half hour of the movie is better, as we know what is going on and his life is explained. The first portion of the movie is distant and cold, leaving a lot desired by the audience who wants to know who this guy is and what is really going on. It is unlike "The Sixth Sense" when it is such a cool surprise when you find out he is actually dead. The imaginary characters in his head are never explained to having any relevance to his disease. Not that is has to be spelled out, but why a little girl and his best friend who he never had. Decent, but not worthy of Oscar consideration.