"I'm perfectly well balanced. I have a chip on both shoulders."
One of the best things I enjoyed about A BEAUTIFUL MIND is the fact that for most of the film it had me fooled.
What I thought was real was not and that is one of the things that makes this movie so intriguing. The writing and Ron Howard's
directing set the scenes up so well that everything seemed real. Since I was not aware of the lead characters schizophrenia problems,
it came as a welcome surprise to see that what was happening really wasn't. Nash's involvement with a high-ranking intelligence officer,
a federal agent (Ed Harris), has a quality of surrealism and you can almost feel something is not right, and that this was not real.
What was really a surprise is the character of Charles, Nash's roommate played by Paul Bettany. Charles and later his young
niece's existence, or lack, of surprised me the most. It quickly becomes clear to the viewer that you can not trust what is presented to you
on the screen.
"There is no conspiracy, John."
When we first encounter Nash it is in 1947 he is a student at Princeton University, hwere within short orde rhe shows his fellow
classmates his disdain for their talents. He is so sure of his abilities that he can not see the possibility of failing. When he plays a game of
GO with another student and loses, his reaction is that it is impossible for him to lose as he had the first move and played a perfect game;
therefore the game is flawed. He has incredible abilities but none extend to the heart or to his interpersonal skills.
"I was so scared you weren't real"
His friend and roommate Charles is the one who helps him discover himself and eventually leads him to come up with his mathematical
equations for his theory on economics. His paper went against 150 years of economic principles. This of course many years later, led to
his receiving the Noble Prize. In the meantime, though he sets up business as Wheeler Labs with two of his schoolmates and in 1953
(7 years later) he comes to the attention of The Pentagon. He is hired to break special Russian Codes. When he sees boards of figures
in front of him he just stands there for hours making calculations in his mind until he figures out the puzzle. Here he comes under the
watchful eye of Agent Parcher, a stereotypical 50's government agent. You know the kind, always dressed in a black suit , fedora and
driving a black car and of course always being mysterious.
"Ritual requires we proceed with a number of platonic activities before we have sex."
At Wheeler they teach special classes and this is where Nash meets the woman who will help change his life. Jennifer Connelly's
Alicia is a graduate student who sees something special in him beyond his obvious talents and in time they fall in love, marry and even
have a child together. All this time John works with Agent Parcher deciphering and delivering his findings to an erie mansion.
"I keep the Russians from knowing you work for us. You quit working for us; I quit working for you."
Nash's schizophrenia gets out of hand quickly. His imagination is so powerful that he himself in the middle of car chases and shootouts
with enemy spies. In the countless papers littering his office he sees patterns and secret messages where none exist. Things get out of
hand when his problems almost affects their child's safety. Alicia has no recourse but to do something drastic to help her husband.
"Charles, you've been a very good friend but I won't talk to you anymore"
At a Harvard University Mathematical Conference, Nash meets his old friend Charles, with whom he confides the particulars of his job for
the government. While giving his speech, Nash is distracted by all the men in black around the hall. His speech is a disaster and suddenly
he finds himself on the run from what he believes to be Russian assassins. Instead he ends up running into Dr. Rosen whom Nash
believes is out to kill him. Dr. Rosen will in time prove to be an understanding psychiatrist who does everything possible to help Nash
fend off his demons. After many courses of shock therapy and medications he improves but it isn't until newer drugs are introduced that he
truly stands a chance at a real life. With this medication he begins his journey back to reality and to the world at Princeton one year later.
"Rosen said to call him if you try to kill me or anything."
I'm not going to tell you much about his return as it is worth seeing for yourself. His struggle back to a real life is frought with hardships
and constant vigilance on Nash's part. Nash is one of the lucky ones to have understood and accepted his disability and he went on to
a better life. The movie takes us into 1994 and his receiving the Nobel prize. Eventually Nash would return to teaching. The real John
Nash is still active and teaching to this day.
"Forgive me, I'm always suspicious of new people."
While watching the credits roll by, I wondered if it was the brilliance of the man that made him insane or whether you just have to be
somewhat over the top to be able to see the universe the way some of these geniuses see it. So many real geniuses seem to be eccentric
in their lives. I guess to be able to see into the mind of God one must be slighly insane. If a good movie is meant to make you ponder
some of lifes little mysteries then A BEAUTIFUL MIND suceeds admirably.
"Ladies and gentleman, the great John Nash."
Crowe's character changes so much during this movie and he is so believable that he will likely be nominated for best actor for this role.
It is the best performance that I have seen this year. Crowe's remarkable transformations and nervous twitches bring John Nash to life on
the big screen. It is a superb performance and one that should be seen by as many moviegoers as possible. Heck, Crowe should just
win if for no other reason then to let the Academy show his closing speech when he receives his Nobel Prize.
"Only in the mystic equations of love can the true logic of reason be found."
Excellent writing, acting and cinematography make this a film that is worth the ticket price. So go to your movie listings and find out
where to go and see this excellent piece of film. A BEAUTIFUL MIND is time and money well wasted. Come on now get away from
the television set and go out and exercise your mind. Popcorn anyone?
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