Another amazing performance from Russell Crowe

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2001)

I was worried that Ron Howard would turn this fascinating story into another of his simple-minded, sappy movies. So I was very pleasantly surprised to find instead that the film resists simple explanations and solutions and avoids sloppy sentimentality until the final scene. Russell Crowe is fantastic as always, disappearing into the character and evoking empathy for the troubled, brilliant John Nash, not pity. The film is moving and genuinely surprising. Definitely recommended.