Good but definitely not great

Rating: 5/10 (29 August 2002)

A good movie, highlighted by a stunning performance by Russell Crowe, but limited by dull and unimaginative direction, a one-dimensional aim and disappointing compromises.
Crowe is brilliant - his failure to win the Oscar is one of the worse decisions by the Academy - but his portrayal of insanity is let down by a disappointing screenplay and very limited directorial skills. Compared to Shine - which shows you how well these things can be done, the images of insanity are dull, and the plotting is pedestrian at best.
The inability of the director to face up to the limitations of Nash as a human being, the soppy ending and the cliched images of collegiate life let the movie down too - with a decent director, it could have been great.