Succeeds on all Levels

Rating: 10/10 (16 April 2002)

POSSIBLE SPOILERS
It's hard to start at a certain point in praising this film. It has been a few months since the movie's release but I just got around to seeing it. Needless to say, I'm glad the illness which Crowe possessed was not revealed to me (unlike the Sixth Sense was), greatly surprising me! Russell Crowem the Aussie. While not a big fan of him as a person (cocky and a bit rude), I cannot deny his acting skills. He may possibly be the best actor at the present time, joining the ranks of Tom Hanks, Edward Norton, and Denzel Washington.
Crowe's portrayal of the sick Nash takes on many levels of character development, essential in creating a good film. The supporting cast around him merely made his performance look that much better, such as Joaquin Phoenix (no Oscar) did in Gladiator. An array of emotions poured out by the transformed Crowe made me feel that Crowe had forgotten himself and had become Nash (much like Tom Cruise does with his characters). This is what acting is truly about. Anyone can see an actor (faker) and an ACTOR (if anyone gets what I am saying cause this messageboard wont let me use any damn italics).
I am aware that the story was Hollywoodized to make it the "feel good movie of the year" (geez...there seem to be so many of those), but I felt it was necessary to do such. With a depressing story such as this one, a boost was definitely needed. But not all the time, don't get me wrong. Sometimes people just gotta die in Lifetime movies OK? But back to the point. The film won best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress, all which I felt were deserved. I still question why Crowe's name was not amongst the winners. I am not downsizing Washington's role in Traing Day whatsoever but if the entire rest of the crew succeeds in supporting the main star, shouldnt the main star win as well?
One lase point. The film succeeds in letting you see what life is really about, love. Crowe's character comes to the realization that love is not a mathematical problem that can be solved. It is merely a feeling that cannot be explained. In one of the most cliche but none-the-less tear-jerking lines at the end of the film, Crowe makes this point stick. He calls his wife his "reason". Sappy but Im a sucker.
I have seen only a few films which rank at the level which I am about to give. Notice this is a film, not a movie (a film sounds more prestigious). From the guy who doesn't fall for MI2 being cool, I give it my highest rating of a 10. 10/10
Everyone has an opinion, and I am merely stating mine.