Good for Hollywood, but no classic.

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2002)

Again, I won't recycle the plot of this movie since it's well covered below, just to say that this is a good, although nearly fictional Hollywood biopic. Ron Howard is trying to put a human face on mental illness and prove even the most ostracized, alienated of people still yearn for the basic feelings of love, acceptance and relevance in this world. Akiva Goldsman's script is serviceable, though there are several phony moments, character actions and speeches that don't hit home. In other words, it has that "Only-in-Hollywood" mentality that stretches credibility to the limit.
The most deserving of it's four Oscars was the one that went to Jennifer Connelly, while nearly everyone who stepped up to the podium praised Russell Crowe and said they wouldn't be there without him. Crowe is of course, fine as always, but Ms. Connelly is every bit as responsible for the film's success and critical praise as Crowe. She's the genuine heart of this movie, generates a lot of emotion through simple facial expressions and obviously put a great deal of care and heart into this performance. It shines through and keeps this uneven film grounded most of the time.
My score: 7 out of 10.