A Beautiful Mind is one of my all time favorite movies because I remember watching it when I was young and thinking about what this movie meant. This movie was the first time I can remember a movie making me reflect through cinema. Although, I did not fully understand what the movie was trying to tell me, I could understand that it was trying to tell me something. My whole family enjoys this movie and we end up watching it at least once a year. I figured with the news of his death, it was time to watch it again.
The movie follows an eccentric mathematician named John Nash, played by Russel Crowe ,who is trying to push himself to reach the expectations that he sets for himself. Through this, he finds love in his student, played by Jennifer Connely, and friendship throughout his experiences of teaching and working as a respected math mind. He hits a speed bump in his life though, when he finds that he has schizophrenia and that some of the most treasured relationships he has had were only in his mind. The movie then shows his battle against schizophrenia through traditional means until he finally has to will his mind into rejecting the creations of his mind, this is shown as he is getting recognized for his previous work throughout his life.
The movie has very interesting cinematic elements that I feel make the movie stand out. To me the makeup work is an unsung hero for the movie. The main character is shown in depth from ages 18 to 40 and then again at 65. This is done very convincingly and subtlely throguhout the movie making it very realistic. This aids the ability to effectively story tell because we are more convinced of the characters and settings. The movie is shot using very standard shots throughout and relies on the acting and writing to really carry the movie. This is common throughout other Ron Howard films, such as, Cinderella Man and Apollo 13. The lighting throughout is very dull and grey making the whole movie seemingly filmed on a cold cloudy day. The movie also interstingly chooses to ignore and create parts of John Nash's story in order to help tell the story that they want to tell.
The movie really shows its heart at its climax. This is when Russel Crowe is learning the depths of his disease and how it has affected his life throughout. It shows him facing complications with his medicine while still seeing the hallucinations he has always seen. He is at a crossroad in his life because he is risking his sanity for his family and his passions.
The movie shows him struggling with what and who is real through his day to day life and the the isolation and fear that his schizophrenia caused. He then has to ignore his friend who is constantly following him and calling to him because he realized that he was only imaginary. At this point he decides to confront the hallucinations in his mind and control them to finally end the communication between the two. He does this by telling them goodbye at the steps of Princeton, where he and his friend first met. The performance by Russel Crowe is one to get lost in. I forget regulary throughout the movie that he isn't experiencing this life first hand, but only displaying someone elses interpretation of John Nash's life.
I give this movie 5/5 devitos without a doubt. It is so personal and touching yet entertaining and interesting that it would be hard to find someone who would not enjoy this film. I would recommend this movie to anyone and everyone regardless of age, race, gender, or class.
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