A Beautiful Mind

by Cheeto

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Posted on 2 June 2021

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Rating -

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American biographical drama film based on the life of the American mathematician John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics and Abel Prize winner. The film was directed by Ron Howard, from a screenplay written by Akiva Goldsman. It was inspired by the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1997 book of the same name by Sylvia Nasar. The film stars Russell Crowe, along with Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, and Christopher Plummer in supporting roles. The story begins in Nash’s days as a graduate student at Princeton University. Early in the film, Nash begins to develop paranoid schizophrenia and endures delusional episodes while watching the burden his condition brings on his wife Alicia and friends.

A Beautiful Mind truly is a brilliant film, these are the reasons why.

First off, I love the cast, I think that Russell Crowe (hot off of Gladiator) puts in a brillaint performance. It’s the realest portrayal I’ve seen of paranoid schizophrenia, this just goes to show why he was the current holder of the actor in a lead role Oscar. I think that Jennifer Connolly plays a great love interest, but she is so much more. As John Nash (Crowe) spirals into full blown schizophrenia, you can see her health, both mentally and physically, also start to deteriorate. I also think that Ed Harris, Paul Bettany and Christopher Plummer put in great performances in supporting roles.

Once again, this is another brilliant film from Ron Howard. His style is woven throughout this film and it is also brilliantly written. I love how the film’s story stretches over the years, the characters also progress throughout this time. The film is paced well, and it brings out genuine emotions in us (the viewer).

Overall, give this film a watch as John Nash himself called it brilliant. It is a hard watch at times, but it is a hopeful film, and it will put a smile on your face.

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