Hollywood at its finest

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2011)

I knew nothing about this movie before I saw it, only that it was a true story about a mathematician whose life took a turn for the worse after taking a new job. I thought this was a espionage-math movie. This made the plot progression much more shocking, and gave the film, in my eyes, a great twist.
A Beautiful Mind tells the story of John Nash, a man who is great at math, but not great with women. He takes on the job of breaking codes for the government, and begins to be followed and in one excellent scene, shot at. However, *SPOILERS* this is not the case, he is a schizophrenic, and it was all in his head. We see his slow recovery with fallbacks, as well as his wife's ordeals through this.
Starring Russell Crowe, fresh from his Best Actor win, is a radically different person here: he is meek and intelligent, as opposed to the brave and strong Maximus. I believe his performance here is better than in Gladiator. He shows more range and is convincing as the confused and sick Nash.
Opposite him is his wife Alicia played by Jennifer Connelly, fresh from her descent in a favourite of mine, Requiem for A Dream. She is excellent, but I think she slipped at the end in the aged finale. Her makeup/CGI is not convincing.
From Nash's view, the film is planted in reality, but the amazing original soundtrack makes it more like a dream. Even the intense chase is accompanied by piano. The music is great, and you notice the scenes it isn't present.
The direction is great, the pacing is quick, and the shooting is conventional, but that's all it needs to be.
Why did I describe the film as 'Hollywood at its finest"? Because the true story is far less glamorous and sympathetic. The filmmakers cut out Nash's lesser moments, like his divorce, affairs and racist rants. Also the majority of the hallucinations didn't happen. There was no roommate, no government agents in his head: the reality wouldn't make a very good film. Certainly, changes can be made to enhance a story for the screen, but this story is barely John Nash. This post-viewing knowledge soured my remembrance of the film.
A Beautiful Mind is a great film with great direction and acting, but strays too far from the truth. But don't let that dampen your mood on a great drama. 8.6/10