A Hollywood Illusion

Rating: 2/10 (21 April 2002)

A Beautiful Mind represents so much of what is wrong with Hollywood and the Oscars. Though this film is largely vapid, trite, and completely fails to delve into John Nash's psyche at all, it presents the illusion of a strong character study. The beautiful cinematography, musical score, and close-ups all work to create, like a formula, the illusion of feeling. The audience sees (close-up + sad music + frustrated Russel Crowe = sad reaction). Ron Howard provided the audience with all of the trappings they expect to see in an Oscar-calibre film and most moviegoing audiences have been trained to believe that slow-motion and nice cinematogrgraphy are the elements that make a good film. Yet, this film completely lacks the kind of character development and true inner conflict that thrives in a film like Monster's Ball. It is a veneer and never even attempts to get below the surface. Ron Howard went fishing for an Oscar and got two. The fact that Howard won an Oscar is embarrasing. Not that he is an awful dirctor, but he's certainly not on the level that would warrant an Oscar. He's best when he is simply entertaining -