Rating: 
Summary: Completes A Nice Three Part Presentation
Review: First there was the award winning book, "A Beautiful Mind", followed by the award-winning movie of the same name. And now there is the PBS documentary, "A Brilliant Madness". This recent addition offers what the previous two did not, and that is interviews with the real people the book was based upon including Professor John Nash.In addition to Professor Nash you will be able to hear from his wife, one of his sons, as well as his childhood friends, his colleagues, and their wives. The information that is presented is not necessarily new, but is all the more powerful when told by Professor Nash. The DVD culminates in his appearance at the award ceremony for the Nobel Prize, and it is as moving a moment as any book or film. The show is fairly brief at 60 minutes, and much is taken up by narrative while recreated moments in Dr. Nash's life are shown. I found the most interesting aspect of the disc to be held within the special features, which include the entire interview, which is only partially used during the show. This gives the clearest and most fascinating look at this remarkable man, and is as informative as the balance of the presentation.
Rating:
Summary: See this one instead.
Review: If the film A Beautiful Mind left you non-plussed, don't worry. Where Beautiful Mind was strewn with Hollywood concocted implausibilities and only hinted at the real, far more interesting story of John Nash, this *is* the real story and in this case, the real story is about 50 times more interesting. Where I didn't really care for Beautiful Mind, I found this documentary riveting. One of my favorite films, it is a fascinating study of a unique individual, his affliction, and his gift. And if you liked the Holywood version, you will still love having the holes in that story filled. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: See this one instead.
Review: If the film A Beautiful Mind left you non-plussed, don't worry. Where Beautiful Mind was strewn with Hollywood concocted implausibilities and only hinted at the real, far more interesting story of John Nash, this *is* the real story and in this case, the real story is about 50 times more interesting. Where I didn't really care for Beautiful Mind, I found this documentary riveting. One of my favorite films, it is a fascinating study of a unique individual, his affliction, and his gift. And if you liked the Holywood version, you will still love having the holes in that story filled. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: See this one instead.
Review: If the film A Beautiful mind left you non-plussed, don't worry. Where Beautiful mind was strewn with Hollywood concocted implausibilities and only hinted at the real, far
more interesting story of John Nash, this *is* the real story and in this case, the real
story is about 50 times more interesting. Where I didn't really care for Beautiful Mind, I found this documentary riveting and it is one of my favorite films. It is a fascinating study of a unique individual, his affliction, and his gift. And if you liked the Holywood version, you will still love having the holes in that story filled. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: A Remarkable Biographical Documentary Of Redemption!!
Review: In this PBS Biographical Documentary,"A Brilliant Madness" tells the story of the Nobel Prize winning mathematical genius and Bluefield West Virginia native "John Forbes Nash" who was the inspiration for the award winning blockbuster movie"A Beautiful Mind" starring Russell Crowe as John Nash.Reknowned as" The most Remarkable Mathmetician Of The Second Half Of The 20th Century".John Nash reflects in this film on his life and tragic illness saying that"Madness" can be an escape,"In Madness,I thought that I was the most important person in the world!!"At age 30,Nash suffered a horrific nervous breakdown.He thought Aliens were sending him messages,became obsesses with secret numbers and saw conspiracies all around him.Diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia,Nash spent a decade in and out of mental hospitals,surviving with the support of his wife Alicia and former Colleagues.During that time,A mathematical proof and theory that he had written became the foundation of modern economics.Somehow he miraculously recovered and transformed himself in the 1980's.Then in 1994,Nash capped his remarkable return from madness by winning the Nobel Prize.This remarkable biographical documentary although somewhat diffferent from the movie"A Beautiful Mind"is a wonderful addition or by itself most informative and very well worth watching!!
Rating:
Summary: Authentic and Accessible
Review: It's been about a year since Ron Howard released the film "A Beautiful Mind" based on Sylvia Nasar's biography of the same name. Some viewers found the film superficial and not a faithful, complete representation of Nash's life. A few readers found the book a little inaccessible with its detail and its extensive footnoting and documentation. "A Brilliant Madness" allows viewers to examine the life of John Nash with the accessibility of the movie and the credibility of the book. "A Brilliant Madness" starts with the early boyhood of Nash and chronicles his life to the point where he receives the Nobel Prize. It includes footage narrated by Nash himself, his wife, his sister, fellow mathematicians, and biographer Nassar. It shows both his achievements and his illness. It includes large blocks of his life that the movie leaves out. I can understand why a feature-type movie could not accurately and completely document a life as complex and multi-faceted as Nash's. It would have to develop too many characters, explain too many complex mathematical formulas, and go in too many directions. The movie does a good job of showing who he is through the art of the film. The book, on the other hand, goes into much more detail and is very good for a reader who wants to commit some effort to understanding both Nash's accomplishments and his illness. It is very thorough and remarkably accessible for such a thorough treatment. "A Brilliant Madness," however does a fine job of presenting a credible introduction to Nash's life and work in a relatively short time. Viewers whose interest is peaked can then seek out "A Beautiful Mind" if they so desire.
Rating:
Summary: Authentic and Accessible
Review: It's been about a year since Ron Howard released the film "A Beautiful Mind" based on Sylvia Nasar's biography of the same name. Some viewers found the film superficial and not a faithful, complete representation of Nash's life. A few readers found the book a little inaccessible with its detail and its extensive footnoting and documentation. "A Brilliant Madness" allows viewers to examine the life of John Nash with the accessibility of the movie and the credibility of the book. "A Brilliant Madness" starts with the early boyhood of Nash and chronicles his life to the point where he receives the Nobel Prize. It includes footage narrated by Nash himself, his wife, his sister, fellow mathematicians, and biographer Nassar. It shows both his achievements and his illness. It includes large blocks of his life that the movie leaves out. I can understand why a feature-type movie could not accurately and completely document a life as complex and multi-faceted as Nash's. It would have to develop too many characters, explain too many complex mathematical formulas, and go in too many directions. The movie does a good job of showing who he is through the art of the film. The book, on the other hand, goes into much more detail and is very good for a reader who wants to commit some effort to understanding both Nash's accomplishments and his illness. It is very thorough and remarkably accessible for such a thorough treatment. "A Brilliant Madness," however does a fine job of presenting a credible introduction to Nash's life and work in a relatively short time. Viewers whose interest is peaked can then seek out "A Beautiful Mind" if they so desire.
Rating:
Summary: The ideal documentary to watch after "A Beautiful Mind"
Review: Obviously one of the chief attractions of "A Brilliant Madness" is that it tells the "true" story of mathematician John Nash behind the theatrical film "A Beautiful Mind" (and the title of this 2002 documentary is clearly indicated to echo the Oscar winning film). Certainly this documentary can stand on it's own, but those who have seen the movie will find it extremely informative, especially in terms of Nash's work in mathematics. I have not had a math class since I was a freshman in high school, so I have no ability whatsoever to understand the work Nash was doing, but the script by Mark Samels and Randall Maclowry does an excellent job of using narration and interview clips with Nash's colleagues to at least help me understand the significance of what Nash was doing. I am perfectly willing to accept the fact in movies like "A Beautiful Mind" or "Good Will Hunting" that people are scribbling out profound mathematical formulas but I also appreciate some glimpse into the specifics, which is what this documentary provides. I would not go so far as to claim that "A Brilliant Madness" corrects the "errors" of the theatrical film, simply because "A Beautiful Mind" is a creative work that does not really have to explain or justify its dramatic liberties. But certainly it provides more of Nash's biography than the theatrical film, which is ultimately more a creative look at paranoid schizophrenia. Too bad this documentary was not included as part of the DVD package for "A Beautiful Mind," but you cannot have everything in this world. This documentary, narrated by Liev Schreiber (never would have guessed), runs 60-minutes and originally aired as part of PBS's "American Experience." My recommendation, of course, is that you should watched the theatrical film and then the documentary.
Rating:
Summary: The ideal documentary to watch after "A Beautiful Mind"
Review: Obviously one of the chief attractions of "A Brilliant Madness" is that it tells the "true" story of mathematician John Nash behind the theatrical film "A Beautiful Mind" (and the title of this 2002 documentary is clearly indicated to echo the Oscar winning film). Certainly this documentary can stand on it's own, but those who have seen the movie will find it extremely informative, especially in terms of Nash's work in mathematics. I have not had a math class since I was a freshman in high school, so I have no ability whatsoever to understand the work Nash was doing, but the script by Mark Samels and Randall Maclowry does an excellent job of using narration and interview clips with Nash's colleagues to at least help me understand the significance of what Nash was doing. I am perfectly willing to accept the fact in movies like "A Beautiful Mind" or "Good Will Hunting" that people are scribbling out profound mathematical formulas but I also appreciate some glimpse into the specifics, which is what this documentary provides. I would not go so far as to claim that "A Brilliant Madness" corrects the "errors" of the theatrical film, simply because "A Beautiful Mind" is a creative work that does not really have to explain or justify its dramatic liberties. But certainly it provides more of Nash's biography than the theatrical film, which is ultimately more a creative look at paranoid schizophrenia. Too bad this documentary was not included as part of the DVD package for "A Beautiful Mind," but you cannot have everything in this world. This documentary, narrated by Liev Schreiber (never would have guessed), runs 60-minutes and originally aired as part of PBS's "American Experience." My recommendation, of course, is that you should watched the theatrical film and then the documentary.
Rating:
Summary: Fuller picture
Review: This is a good work to watch after seeing the Ron Howard film. It gives a fuller picture of John Nash's life and trials. Nash comes off as the typical eccentric professor one encounters in university settings but he's very likable. You don't have to be a math and economics expert to be in awe of Nash's accomplishments. You will also admire his friends and family's dedication during his roughest periods. My only annoynance was the commentary. The filmmakers seemed to be too caught up in the technical aspects of the film such as lighting, camera work, etc. It just seemed out of place for a documentary.
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