The movie that Ron Howard should be remembered for.

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2002)

I think that when a person is put on Earth, they are put here and in their place for a reason. I feel that Ron Howard was put here on Earth, not for acting, but for filmmaking. Just like Steven Spielberg, both directors have has a excellent career full of features, but there will the that one film that stands above the rest. Ironically, both Spielberg and Howard's greatest directing achievements deal with the human spirit. For StevenSpielberg it is SCHINDLER'S LIST, for Ron Howard, it's A BEAUTIFUL MIND. For years we, as film viewers, have seen movies about human achievements. FORREST GUMP, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and BRAVEHEART are among the human achievement films. But those films are about the central character overcoming the odds against society or the system. A BEAUTIFUL MIND is something much different, it's about overcoming the odds that lie in oneself. John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe) is a highly intelligent mathematician who is enthusiastic about his solving and completing math problems. His work and accomplishments have gotten the attention of a government program that has Nash work for the mathematics department along with two co-workers that he went to Princeton with, Sol (Adam Goldberg) and Bender (Anthony Rapp). Nash not only does number solving, but also teaching, which is how he meets his true devoted love in life Alicia (Jennifer Connelly), who later becomes Nash's wife. It's while working for the government that Nash is recruited by a mysterous agent, Parcher (Ed Harris). Parcher tells Nash that there is a huge cold war Russian conspiracy, where the Russians are communicating with each other by putting coded messages with letters and words in American newspaper and magazines. It is by doing this that Nash feels that doing highly top secret government work, that he feels that he is being followed and watched, and which leds Nash to become paranoid and fear for Alicia and his own life. What makes A BEAUTIFUL MIND much more different than any other film that I have seen, is that the picture takes you into the mind of John Nash Jr. You see the world from his view, how he finds the numbers, digits, and letter codes in the media articles; the way he does formulas on how his classmates can succeed on the four of them each leaving the bar with a woman; and by looking at someone's neck tie, how the design can be done identical redone with a crystal drinking glass and sunlight. It shows that this is a human being who means good for this planet. Nash only would like to solve formulas and to assit society as much as possible, the same society that he admits that he doesn't get along well with. But sadly, we see Nash's problems and fears as he feels that the whole world is closing in on him. I have always enjoyed the career of Ron Howard, NIGHT SHIFT, COCOON, BACKDRAFT, FAR & AWAY, & APOLLO 13 are all wonderful films that Howard has shown his talent and skill as a filmmaker. But there is that one film that manages to amaze the viewer, the movie that you would expect to be good or well done, but it winds up becoming something much more. A BEAUTIFUL MIND is that film, it gives you a lesson in life, a lesson that will hopefully change the way you would look at life forever. Russell Crowe gives the acting performance of his life with his performance as John Nash Jr. Crowe shows on his face his fear and frustration that Nash went though when dealing with his psycholigical problems. It is very rare when a actor gives the ability for the viewer to see and understand the world through their character's eyes and ears. And when a actor or actress can do that, then that is when they deserve the award for Best Acting for that year. For a while, I couldn't think that anybody could have done a better acting job this past year than Gene Hackman gave in ROYAL TENENBAUMS, I was amazed and surprised to see Russell Crowe was the person who accomplished that job. Now I am rooting for both Hackman and Crowe for Best Actor, but if I had to lean towards one, I would lean towards Crowe. I highly enjoyed Hackman's performance, I have never laughed and enjoyed a character so much in years. But when one is in tears by being emotionally touched by the performance that Crowe gives, then you could understand the change in heart. Perhaps it is because that I understand what Nash is going though since I also have deamons in my mind. Then again we all have deamons or fear that lurks inside of us, it's what makes us human. And to see one try to overcome those deamons, you can't help but feel for that person. There are also excellent support for Crowe in this film. Ed Harris as the government agent, Christopher Plummer as Dr. Rosen, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Josh Lucas, and Anthony Rapp as Nash's friends all give superb performances in the film. But the one person who stands out among the support, and almost outshines Crowe's performance is given by Jennifer Connelly. I have always enjoyed the work of Jennifer Connelly, LABRYNTH, HOT SPOT, and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM have all shown how talented Connelly could be. But it is in A BEAUTIFUL MIND where Connelly gives the performance of her life as the worried and strongly supportive wife of Nash. It could have been easy for any other actress go into stereotype cliche and have the character of Alicia break out and yell, "I can't take this anymore!" No, instead we get real human emotions as Connelly, playing Alicia, is very much worried about her husband's state of mind. Yet, it is her love for Nash, which is much stronger, is what keeps Alicia supporting Nash. It has been years since I have loved a movie that won Best Picture. Don't get me wrong, I highly enjoyed AMERICAN BEAUTY, GLADIATOR, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, TITANIC, and BRAVEHEART. But there was always that one movie, that I thought, that should have won instead(INSIDER, TRAFFIC, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, APOLLO 13).I have a strong feeling that this film will win Best Picture. And if it does, then there isn't any other movie this year that deserves it more. This is a monumental success in modern filmmaking, and by all means this movie is a must to be seen. It should be, since it is now along with ROYAL TENENBAUMS, my favorite film of 2001 (sorry ALI). *****