Well-acted but dull

Rating: 5/10 (4 February 2002)

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD** True story about John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe), a brilliant mathematician, and his struggles with schizophrenia. Well-acted by Crowe, Jennifer Connelly (as his wife), Ed Harris (as a government agent) and Paul Bettany (as a college roommate) but dull dull dull!!! It's needleslly long (over 2 hours), very slow and I had a hard time staying awake. A few people walked out after about an hour--I wish I had joined them.
This movie purports to be a true story. It isn't. They make Nash into a saint-like character. In real life he cheated on his wife (with women AND men), was addicted to drugs and divorced her. All this is left out of the movie to make him more acceptable for mainstream audiences. Basically though, they're lying. They end up making his character boring. Only Crowe's acting gives his character any depth.
The film just moves at a turtle's pace with characters talking and talking and talking endlessly about boring subjects (the schizophrenia doesn't kick in until after an hour). Only the acting is good. Anyways, this film was made for only one reason--to win Oscars. It has a very cold, calculated feel about it. Everybody looks perfect, everything looks beautiful, there's a big lush musical score, the schizophrenia is presented tastefully--nothing to offend anybody. That is the type of film that wins Oscars--sadly this cleaned up at the Golden Globes so the Oscars might happen. It's just annoying that this movie says it's all about schizophrenia and trying to make the public aware of it, when it's actually all about winning awards and nothing more.
Predictable, boring and calculating. Avoid.