Proves that something extraordinary is possible.

Rating: 7/10 (1 July 2002)

Okay, okay, I admit it. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I rolled my eyes, not hearing the part about it being a true story or that Ron Howard, one of the best directors of this or any generation, had directed and produced it. It was especially the title that made me think it wouldn't be very successful. I mean, "A Beautiful Mind"? Come ON.

Well, I first started realizing I was wrong when I heard it was big at the box office, and then when I heard it had won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. But by the night of the Oscars, I was my skeptical self again. I wanted Ron Howard to win Best Director, and I didn't care if it won Best Picture, but no matter what, I did NOT want Russell Crowe to win Best Actor. I'm not sure why, but it's probably because I'm not crazy about him, since I heard what he did to the person who cut his speech short. And he didn't win.
Finally, a few nights ago, I decided to see this Best-Pic winner that critics were calling "moving" and "powerful," so I rented it--and was taken aback. I was shocked. I couldn't believe I had ever doubted this movie before I saw it. First, I'll get over with saying what's NOT good about it: It does feel full of itself, if you know what I mean.
Now for what IS good: The makeup--they had to make the actors look older, and did a nice job. The musical score--at times it could be annoying, but most of the time I liked the mysterious music that set the tone of a somewhat mysterious film. The acting--need I say more? I admit Russell Crowe gave one of the best performances of his career, and although his accent slipped more than once, I believed him. And Ed Harris was a good addition to the cast--(MAJOR SPOILER)he seemed like a good guy, but got freakier as you realize he's not real.
But the true standout performance, according to the Academy and me, was not Russell, not Ed, not even Christopher Plummer as the doctor who diagnoses John Nash with schizophrenia, but Jennifer Connelly. She's a beautiful and very powerful actress, and really made a name for herself with "A Beautiful Mind"--not just by winning the Oscar, but simply by playing Alicia Nash. I believed every second of her performance (except maybe the whole bathroom mirror scene; that looked a little phony), and although most probably didn't buy the "this is real" line, I did, and I'm not sensitive when it comes to movies.
The only type of person who WOULDN'T enjoy "A Beautiful Mind" would probably be the type that doesn't appreciate a touching, believable drama with excellent directing and wonderful acting...and there are a few goofs to look for, so nit-pickers like me might enjoy hunting for them. However, go for Crowe's performance--or Connelly's if you still aren't convinced------------------8/10