Poorly conceived female character...

Rating: 4/10 (22 March 2002)

A Beautiful Mind does many things right: smooth, professional aesthetics, a solid story, and an interesting well developed character, John Nash (Crowe). I did however have one major problem with the film-- the characterization of Alicia, Nash's wife.
Although Jennifer Connelly may have "acted" well, I found her character highly problematic. How could a smart, beautiful woman (studying at MIT) who seems so normal not have any qualms or relational problems with her husband? Why, in the first place, would she be attracted to someone who appears twenty years older than her (whether he is or not), who is her teacher, and ultimately, a dork. Even if the disbelief is suspended in considering the nuptials, why would she stay loyally at his side through all his psycho tendencies, and on top of that, not have any suspicion that she married a schizophrenic? Although this 'dream girl' of the movies may work in less respectable films or comedies, I was disappointed to find such stereotypical characterization in a serious, critically acclaimed film. I'm sorry, but I've never met anyone like this.
Part of the problem with her characterization I think stems from two "Hollywoodisms" to the adaptation: first, omitting the complex and confusing nature of Nash's love life (i.e. the period of homosexuality) in an effort to make the film mainstream friendly, and secondly, the technique of making his schizophrenia appear real for the first half of the film (ala Sixth Sense). I don't think the film needed to address his homosexuality, but it did need to acknowledge and deal with his complexity in a sexual relationship, and the identity crisis that accompanies it. His relationship with his wife, however, becomes too stable, too simple, and too easy. Yes she cries towards the end, and may get upset, but where are the problems in their relationship earlier, does this woman have a major issue with denial? The stunt of not having his condition apparent for the first half of the film further complicates the character Alicia, as she also must be unaware of his condition for this portion of the film. In reality, however, how could one be?
My final criticism is that the pacing was too slow, but I won't rip the film apart any more. I was just disappointed that such a rich characterization of an interesting man had to be sandwiched with plot candy and typical Hollywood notions of women.
Brooke