Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully made, yet a little off
Review: I saw this movie in the theatre, and was very impressed. Russell Crowe is a very talented actor, he proved that to in "Gladiator" back in 2000; yet it's a little off course from what John Nash's real life is about.I looked into it more, and found out that John Nash was actually bi-sexual. This is something that the movie never really hinted at all. I'm not to sure, now that I think about it, but that's pretty significant information that is being withheld. I guess they omitted it to give us a better opinion of the character; at least that's what I came up with. Another thing that was left out was the fact that Nash eventually got divorced from his wife. Which is no surprise, they almost made it seem in the movie as if his wife would leave him. But it did allow the film to be more gratifying and uplifting. I did like the movie; even if some key parts were left out to better the film's stature. I mean, they do say: "BASED on a true story". And I can only assume that the main message from John Nash's life story was covered. On a much more positive note, the direction of the movie was outstanding. Ron Howard gave us probably his best directing performance since 1995, when he released the blockbuster hit "Apollo 13". And I think that's what made the film. The director plays such an important role in the making of movies; more so than the actors most of the time. This movie is very well done. It has a great starring cast including Russell Crowe, Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly. And being the Awards Edition, you get a great feel for how the movie was made. I'd recommend this film to anyone. Anyone at all. It's very good.
Rating: 
Summary: Enter the Beautiful Mind of John Nash
Review: I have not seen this film until recently. I never really cared for this film nor for its leading star, Mr. Russell Crowe. But I happened to be in Blockbuster and I passed by this DVD so I picked it up only to quench my curiosity over why it was named Best Picture. I was amazed at how wonderful 'A Beautiful Mind' turned out. Of course, I liked Ron Howard's past movies 'Apollo 13', 'Backdraft', 'Gung Ho', 'Cocoon', 'Splash' and 'Nightshift', so my expectations were particularly high. Russell Crowe amazed me as he delivered a very good performance as John Nash, a mentally disturbed mathematician genius at Princeton University. Jennifer Connelly reached her all time career peak as the woman Nash falls in love with and has to deal with her husbands problem. The movie is haunting, dark, funny at times, and very touching. I don't really know whether the movie dramatizes too much for movie purposes, but it sure unfolds very well. The makeup work is one of the highlights of the movie. Ed Harris is surprising in his role. In no way is 'A Beautiful Mind' boring nor is it dumb. It sparks excellent performances and a beautiful character-actor picture. Highly Recommended. A
Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful Movie
Review: The story of a genius mathmatician at his onset of schizophrenia. At the time Nash was diagnosed with schizophrenia it was thought that only insulin shock, medicine, and a stress-free life could allow him to function with the schizophrenia. The medical treatments cost him his ability to solve mathmatical equations and ability to function. As a man of logic he decided to take the disorder into his own hands. Since Nash had always had a gift for solving irrational problems why couldn't he solve this one? I am sure that what Hollywood has given us in this film is far from the truth of what really happened with John Nash, but it was a nice story. The movie is charged with great actors. Plus some of the deleted scenes are actually worth watching, a rare find.
Rating:
Summary: A Portrait of Mental Illness
Review: A Beautiful Mind shares the story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician whose private life was filled with fear and frustration due to mental illness. I found the movie much better than the book. However the book is more factual. The movie tends to over-dramatize a life story that is already dramatic enough.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Performance
Review: "A Beautiful Mind" works on just about all levels. Ron Howard deserved the recognition he received for it, but the whole thing would have fallen apart if the lead actor had been miscast. No such problem here. Russell Crowe gives a simply fantastic portrayal of John Nash. The gestures and speech patterns ring true and would be praise-worthy in their own rite, but compared with his Academy Award-winning turn in "Gladiator" (2000) show the staggering range of this gifted actor. Nothing against Denzel Washington (also an actor of considerable talent), but I would have voted for Mr. Crowe in the Best Actor category for the 2001 Oscars. In case anyone has not seen this film yet, I'll not give away its secrets (it has a couple that rival the one in "The Crying Game"), but I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Ron Howard, a truly formidable director, has made the film of his career that is both moving and thought-provoking. Get this DVD. This is one to treasure.
Rating:
Summary: good for what it is but not what it should be
Review: This is typical Hollywood schlock: a heartwarming story that just screams "OSCAR!" However... did you know that John Nash was bisexual? That he divorced his wife in 1963 and fathered a child out of wedlock? That his son was also a schizophrenic and gifted mathematician, but spent most of his life in institutions? It seems as if content and the true story of Nash's life was spared to keep a PG-13 rating and the voters of the Academy Awards feeling warm and fuzzy. Admittedly, though, this movie does a good job of doing what it's supposed to: making its viewers leave the theater happy and as if they just viewed a work of art about a man with a "beautiful mind," regardless of how inaccurately that mind was portrayed. I liked this movie as a typical Hollywood movie, but not as a biopic of John Nash's life.
Rating:
Summary: An inspirational hope
Review: With respectful disagreement to critics who panned this Ron Howard-directed biopic when it was first released, little wonder that "A Beautiful Mind" collected four Oscars, one for Best Picture, for its respectful and inspirational message that recovery from the hellish demons of schizophrenia is possible if the human spirit is strong enough. The subject here is Nobel prize-winning mathematician John Nash whose theories went on to figure dominantly in ecomonic policy development. The impressiveness of Nash's achievement is all the more impressive by his dealing honestly with schizophrenia that is presented in this fim with a refreshing respect. The film's acting is numbing, from Russell Crowe's Oscar-nominated depiction of Nash's battles with the demonic delusions his condition creates, to Jennifer Connelly's Oscar turn as Crowe's faithful and supportive wife. Crowe, however, is astonishing, projecting a character he has seldom, if ever, portrayed before, and we develop a deep respect for the actor's versatility. As Oscar's Best Director, Howard earned the award by managing to pull off the message, through Nash's struggle, that the human spirit can deal with, if not overcome altogether, the hell that is schizophrenia without medication. It is a respectful treatment of the mental illness, and the film, propelled by Howard's sensitivity to its subject and Crowe's moving portrayal of it, is a profound experience. In the end, we cannot help but appreciate the fragility of life and be inspired by the iron will of the human spirit. It is a magnificent achievement!
Rating:
Summary: Watch as Entertainment Only
Review: This movie is an excellent movie, well written and directed and Russell Crowe's acting is outstanding. Unfortunately, Mr. Howard's vision of John Nash's delusion is way off base and pure hype to increase the entertainment value of the movie. It's still worth watching, but I'd recommend the book if you want to get a more complete perspective.
Rating:
Summary: The Life Of A Schizophrenic
Review: Director Ron Howard's A Beautiful Mind from 2001 is based on the real life story of Professor John Nash. Dr. Nash was a budding mathematical genius who attended Princeton University, taught at MIT but suffered from schizophrenia. He sank to the bottom, only to rise again and win the Nobel Prize in 1994. The film carries us along Nash's journey and Mr. Howard applies some real surprises. The viewer doesn't know that Nash's roommate Charles, his niece Marcee, the Department of Defense agent, Parcher, and the mission to decode magazines that he gives to Nash are not real, but delusions that are the result of Nash's affliction. In the meantime, Nash falls in love with and marries the beautiful Alicia with whom he starts a family. Alicia is stunned to find out about his affliction and her support and love is tested and tried throughout the film. Russell Crowe brilliantly plays Nash, but Jennifer Connelly as Alicia is every bit his equal and then some. Ms. Connelly is the glue that holds the film together and she deservedly won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Mr. Howard finally won a coveted Best Director Oscar and the film took home two other Awards including Best Picture.
Rating: 
Summary: Didnt care for it
Review: I got this movie because of all the hype. I really didnt care for the story at all. Very depressing. Crowe did a great job of acting the part, but the overall story didnt grab me.
I would save big bucks and rent the DVD first, then decide if you want to spend the bucks to add it to your collection.
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