Brilliant both in execution and empathy

Rating: 10/10 (28 January 2002)

It has been a long, long time since I saw a movie like this one. Akiva Goldsman's excellent screenplay brings out the humanity in mathematics and those of us who pursue its riches and secrets. As a mathematician myself, I was impressed, not so much by the glimpses of mathematics this film gives the viewer, but in the way the academic culture at the very highest levels is recreated. Things have not changed that much from John Nash's early days at Princeton to the present time at any major university.
But, like "Good Will Hunting", this movie ultimately is about much more than mathematics. The story of John Nash, his brilliance and madness, brought back many memories for me personally. The consuming fire that goes with mathematical research is wonderfully depicted here. His illness, paranoid schizophrenia, is so well portrayed by Russell Crowe, that I found myself thinking about my best friend who was driven to suicide by his manic-depressive illness. I marvel that Dr. Nash's wife endured all the years of loneliness and emotional deprivation, but I understand because I went through much the same myself as my best friend struggled and ultimately lost his own battle.
I am not a fan of Ron Howard's films. They tend to overdramatize the emotional side of any situation he examines, and there are times I think he stoops to cheap sensationalism in order to make a point. I did not get that impression with this film, however. Akiva Goldsman's script and Russell Crowe's acting combine to lead the viewer into the wild labyrinth of an unbalanced, albeit brilliant, mind without resorting to cheap tricks to keep the viewer engaged. The supporting cast sparkles as they make the viewer truly see what Dr. Nash sees, and without their performances, this movie would have been a colossal failure. This movie is a real keeper. It will stand up to multiple viewings, and I have recommended it to everyone I know. I can't wait for the DVD to be released, for I will certainly add it to my own collection.