a beautiful mind, a beautiful story

Rating: Null/10 (1 May 2004)

If you want to know the *real* story of John Nash then look up competitive dynamics and all his other published works. if you want to know the *real* story about schizophrenia then do some service at your local psychiatric hospital. If however you want an entertaining 2 1/2 hours inspired by a real life experience then watch this movie.
John Nash is still alive and described how he marshalled his rational mind to think his way out of his mental disease on a somewhat recent episode of '60 minutes', the CBS news program. After watching that I determined to see the movie. I was not disappointed. Russell Crowe found the right mode for his role and Jennifer Connelly proved more than adequate for the job.

I was stunned by the plot twist. I have never been so taken in by a story with a plot twist than this film. At the encounter between Alicia and John at the 1 hour 15+/- minute mark of the movie it finally clicked that John's dealings with certain figures in his life were illusions. Very quickly when he compliantly cooperates with the drug (insulin) therapy in the hospital I realized he was going to get better. It was therefore a pivotal moment in the movie. I just didnt realize it until the second viewing.
Ron Howard has definitely broadened his horizons with this oscar winning performance.
Again, if you want the *real true actual* story about mathematics or mental disease or John Nash go to the appropriate sources, otherwise this is a beautiful combination for entertainment's purposes. And besides, John Nash himself did not say anything bad about the movie in the '60 minutes' interview.