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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
A Beautiful Mind
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 out of 4
Review by Susan Granger
4 stars out of 4
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When nerdy John Forbes Nash Jr. arrived on the Princeton University
campus in 1947, he knew he was brilliant and was impatient for recognition from
the rest of the world. "I'm well balanced," he admitted, "a chip on both
shoulders." Insoluble mathematical problems were more of a challenge to him than
classes, and what he lacked in social graces he made up for with innovative
discoveries that earned him a coveted position not only at MIT but also with the
government as part of an elite group of cryptographers breaking Communist codes
from Russia. But like pianist David Helfgott ("Shine") and painter Jackson
Pollock ("Pollock"), John Nash wrestled with psychiatric demons. When he was
hospitalized with paranoid schizophrenia, he fought back with the help of his
devoted wife/former student Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) and - after decades of
wrenching anguish - triumphed over a disease once considered incurable. He
received the Nobel Prize in 1994 for his "Equilibrium Theory," which proves that
every game reaches a state of equilibrium where none of the players can improve
their position. Working from Akiva Goldman's screenplay, based on Sylvia Nasar's
book, director Ron Howard cleverly captures the extraordinary emotional enigma
of this complicated, intuitive genius, and Russell Crowe is totally convincing
as the blunt, abrasive, eccentric prodigy beset by compelling delusions.
Jennifer Connelly's insight into Alicia is astonishing, while Ed Harris remains
aloof as a mysterious Defense Department operative. On the Granger Movie Gauge
of 1 to 10, "A Beautiful Mind" is a fascinating, inspiring, Oscar-worthy 10. And
today John Nash is a peace advocate, asserting that his Equilibrium Theory,
which depends upon bargaining strategy, is the strongest weapon of all.
Copyright © 2001 Susan Granger
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