Something extraordinary

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2002)

Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" is an extraordinary movie with a powerful performance from Russell Crowe as John Forbes Nash. John Nash is the Princeton mathematician who wrote the founding paper on game theory, and has battled schizophrenia almost his entire adult life. In Crowe's acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, he said that "...Hopefully, we made a movie that made you believe that something extraordinary is possible." Director Ron Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and a talented cast have done so.
Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman created a story about humanity, and a touching love story. Goldsman streamlined some of the events of Silvia Nasar's book, and maintained coherence. Howard does not compromise on the perception of the young John Nash, who was a genius, and also an arrogant loner-- not good with people. At the same time we have compassion for Nash's plight given an enlightened view of schizophrenia. The scene in which we discover Nash's condition is purely masterful on Howard's part. Nash's journey is amazing.
Russell Crowe is simply awesome. He can convey what is in Nash's mind with either a look or in dialog. Crowe has such a range of intensity, and is always believable. Crowe's Nash ages 50 years over the course of the movie. At the core of the movie is a great love story. Jennifer Connelly is a revelation as Alicia Nash, John's wife. Connelly as Alicia says that John "transforms into the man that she loves." Connelly's Alicia has such a capacity for courage and doing what is right. She loves John. She stands by him and raises their family. Her Alicia suffers and remains strong. There are also great supporting performances from Christopher Plummer as Nash's psychiatrist, and from Ed Harris and Paul Bettany.
John Nash won the Nobel Prize in 1994 and continues to teach at Princeton. He still accepts and deals with schizophrenia. This is very touching and truly a triumph of the human spirit. Ron Howard and Russell Crowe have created something extraordinary. They move, touch, and inspire us.