if only...

Rating: Null/10 (3 April 2002)

If only this material had been in the hands of a more capable screenwriter, it might have been so much better, even in the hands of a director like Ron Howard, whose work is simply "too Hollywood" to let the viewer be completely immersed in the story. The films glossy style never for a second makes you feel like you're watching something that's completely true to the real story it is based on, or that the filmmakers even tried. The real problem is screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (Batman & Robin, Lost in Space...!), who obviously filled his screenplay with any cliche he could think of. There's, sadly, not an ounce of originality here.
On the other hand, the performances are nothing short of brilliant, especially Russell Crowe who proves to be one of the most versatile actors around, which makes you wish the film would have been in the hands of more daring filmmakers. Instead, what you get is your typical, run-of-the-mill Hollywood biopic, which is watchable for the acting, but disappoints because of a director who chose to play it all too safe, and said script (they were aiming for theÃ­r Oscars, and they got em). Could have been great, and John Nash surely would have deserved a better film.