Rating: 
Summary: This was a surprise for me, since I didn't know
Review: ...what this film was going to be about. I had no idea who John Nash was and I had no idea this was based on a true story. I would have to admit, I was very surprised by Russell Crowe's performance. I thought he was OK in "Gladiator", and have not seen him in anything else since then, so when I saw him in this movie, I was utterly amazed. He played this character flawlessly, to the point that I believed he was John Nash. I don't know of very many actors who can make you believe they're someone else and not who they really are. The scripwriter also should be commended, because if it weren't for those wonderful quirky phrases that he gives Crowe in the movie, you would not get a good sense of the character at all. Although Crowe is a bit hard to understand (he mumbles alot in the movie), when you catch one of those phrases, it just brings a whole different light to the character.Even though the movie seems to cram a great deal into a film that is 2 1/2 hours long (well, almost 2 1/2 hours), I don't really see how a film can be made about most of a person's life without feeling rushed or crammed. I don't think very many people would be willing to deal with a "Ghandi" length film--although longer movies seem to be more accepted these days than they were in the past, I still don't think a 4 hour movie would be to most people's taste. One thing I should note, though, is that it sure didn't FEEL like a 2 1/2 hour movie. I think the movie did a good job in highlighting the important parts of Nash's life, although I am sure others will differ. One thing that bothered me throughout the movie was the fact that Nash rarely seems to be shown working or publishing after being diagnosed with schizophrenia, but I assume the reason why this was dropped was to emphasize what was going on in the last part of the movie (Nash trying to reclaim his life) rather than having us deal also with the mediocre details of what he published when. It's pretty much a given that Nash must have published some very influential papers, or else he never could have won the Nobel Prize. I didn't find this movie mushy at all, however, I am female, and I guess it's a given for my gender that I find that things that are mushy for men are not mushy for me. I just thought this was a powerful tale about a brilliant man who is faced with a devastating mental disorder who finds a way to balance his life and his work against dealing with such a devastationg disorder. It's pretty clear that Nash is not one of the schizophrenics that can be "cured" with drugs, yet he found a very creative solution to deal with his problem. I left the theater feeling admiration for a person I've never met and never will--I was absolutely terrible at math in high school and college. On a more personal level, since I have been diagnosed with clinical depression, I feel inspired by this movie to find a way around my problem like Nash did and try to conquer my problem with a creative solution instead of just giving up when the drugs don't work out.
Rating: 
Summary: Real Story More Dramatic Than Fictionalized Version
Review: Having read the biography of the highly complex and none too likable math genius, John Nash, one cannot help but be disappointed in the movie version. Russell Crowe is superb and brings all his talent and skills into this performance, but mainstream Hollywood director Ron Howard tends to go for general audience appeal. There should have been more emphasis on the astounding work on game theory that led to his Nobel prize. And bringing in less flattering aspects of Nash's behavior and brash personality would have made for much better drama than the ones contrived to tug at our heartstrings. Still, general audiences who know little or nothing of Nash will be impressed with the way the story is spun. Too bad more of the truth couldn't have been laid out for us to digest. It's a real life drama that needs no Hollywood gimics or fictionalized script.
Rating:
Summary: Actually it's not a bad film.
Review: I got to a movie theater that showing this film in a limited release and it's pretty good, I think Russell Crowe will show everyone that he can be a good actor when the right script comes along and Jennifer Connely is good too in her role. Ron Howard's skills as a film maker are very effective here. Also stars Ed Harris and Christopher Plummer.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Mind
Review: Saw ABM at a preview showing on Tuesday night. Had a hanky in my pocket - prepared to cry, but was pleasantly surprised that it isn't that type of film. The movie is awesome, the acting superb, the subject matter pretty heavy-duty but presented in a easy-to-follow mode. It was hard to believe that I was watching Russell Crowe. All I can say is that he is just about, no - he is the best actor out there. Can't wait for the DVD to come out!Cleo E. Blackstone
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, but worth seeing
Review: Pretty much what I expected: corny, mushy, and almost annoyingly feel-good. Add some cheesy music by James Horner for good measure, and you have a typical Ron Howard film. My biggest complaint about this movie is that it's just a simple chronicle of events rather than a character study, and we learn very little about John Forbes Nash Jr. other than the fact that he is a math genius and a schizophrenic. The movie tries to cram too much into the allotted 2 hours, and it inevitably feels rushed and choppy. All of the peripheral characters are also very poorly developed and the strong supporting cast is mostly wasted in thankless roles. Despite all these flaws, I really enjoyed this movie. The story is fascinating and moving, and The Sixth Sense-esque approach to depict Nash's schizophrenia from his point of view worked very well. It's not an Oscar caliber film, and the acting isn't as great as the rave reviews it's been garnering (it'll almost certainly get some Oscar nods though), but definitely worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film about a Great Man...
Review: I just watched the film in a preview screening. Russel Crowe's portrayl of Nash was extraordinary. He did a fantastic job of acting. I see Oscar nomination again for Crowe. He also had a great supporting cast. A definate must see for any moviegoer that appreciates a great film.
Rating:
Summary: Good Film! Give the Oscar nod to Crowe again
Review: From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experienced it all. A mathematical genius, he made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over his tragedy, and finally - late in life - received the Nobel Prize. Nash is played magnificantly by Russel Crowe, who deserves the third oscar nomination in the past three years. The screenwriter for this film did a good job (surprising considering his filmography includes batman and robin!). The direction is pretty subtle but nice from Ron Howard (Backdraft, The Grinch, Apollo 13). This is the kind of film that the academy loves, so look for it at the oscars this year. I recommend seeing some other Christmas films first, but if this one interests you then you need to see it!
Rating:
Summary: Maybe not the book, but what a movie!
Review: I was lucky enough to get to see a preview of A BEAUTIFUL MIND. I had read the book and wondered how they were going to make John Nash into a sensitive human being. Well, Russell Crowe
deserves not only an Oscar, but every other award out there! He is sensitive, cold, passionate, and yes, even lovable as the great mathematician.
The rest of the cast is fine, especially the always competent Ed Harris. I guarantee you will laugh, cry, cringe and shudder, and leave the theatre completely satisfied. If you want more information on Nash read the book.
There are some real suprises. Ron Howard made this a feel good movie about a genius...he's added a little sugar, and in so doing directed a marvelous film. Kudos to all!
Rating:
Summary: Test Audience Treat
Review: On September 24th I had the opportunity to see a test screening of this film. I really can't say much about it due to a confidentiality agreement the audience was asked to sign but this film is a treat. Very intelligent, very mature. Crowe and Connelly are superb.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad movie, too many historical inaccuracies
Review: Ron Howard's movie, "A Beautiful Mind", that showed the life of John Nash, the mathematician was a reasonable movie with good music, has passion and brings out some aspects of his life, but is too simplistic. For starts, I do not think that Russell Crowe was the right choice for that role, he is too well built for a mathematician, especially when he goes to the class in MIT. He is better suited for a muscle role. The movie has too many historical inaccuracies. While they show some aspects of John Nash as a the genius he was, as a cuddly, unworldly, lovable nerd - they do not show the dark side of him. In reality, he was a pretty ugly person. He has been guilty of "Jew bashing". During his 30-year immersion in paranoid schizophrenia, Sylvia Nassar says that Nash did indeed bombard Jewish colleagues (by whose brilliance he had always felt threatened) with letters addressing them as "Jewboys". When working in Rand Corporation, he was dismissed as a security risk. Soon afterwards, Nash had an illegitimate child, John, by a woman whom he declined to marry, supposedly on the grounds that she was beneath him socially. Supposedly, Nash's father died from the shame of it all. Shortly after John Jr's birth, Nash married one of his ex-students, the appropriately upper-crust Alicia Larde, by whom he had another son whom he also named John: John Jr 2. Films are generally terrible at showing how great ideas are arrived at. The part where he gets the idea of the equilibruim in the bar when seeing the girls and using group theory is ludicrous to anyone knowing even basics of game theory. In reality, this was a culmination of work done by a lot of brilliant minds like John von Neumann. His wife divorces him after his schizophrenia but still takes care of him. She said that he was a boarder at her home, she later remarried him when he was cured, this was also conveniently omitted in the movie. The part of how he gets cured is also oversimplified in the movie. It could have been done better. I was surprised that this movie got the best picture and best director oscars. To anyone knowing the truth behind this movie, this was laughable.
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