Reel Critics

Craig Von Freymann

“A Beautiful Mind” is a wonderful movie that works on several levels

as a love story, as a math movie and as a study on mental illness. It was

a total surprise to me how good the movie was and how much I enjoyed it.

The film opens in 1947 as we meet our hero, the socially awkward

genius John Nash (Russell Crowe). Nash has just won a fellowship and has

been pared with the best and brightest minds of the time. Nash has

trouble fitting in with the group and we are lead to believe it is just

his awkwardness. As the movie progresses, we learned the truth; Nash

suffers from a debilitating mental illness.

While his mathematical genius is evident to all, his still undisclosed

illness makes him a poor student. Nash faces dismissal from Princeton due

to his failure to produce any work. He instead focuses on discovering one

original idea.

The journey from the discovery to the idea is the film’s crowning

achievement. Nash’s struggle to keep his sanity and his love for math is

Academy Award winning material. Crowe’s performance is head and shoulders

above his work in “Gladiator.”

Jennifer Connelly is fabulous as Nash’s loving wife who sees her man

through their darkness days. Connelly’s is a great performance that makes

the movie work.

“A Beautiful Mind” is deftly directed by Ron Howard and supremely

acted. The supporting performances make Crowe’s starring role even

better.

I highly recommend this movie but it is tough to watch at times. The

acting is so good and the story so true, it hurts.

* CRAIG VON FREYMANN, 33, Is an avid surfer who enjoys the quality of

life and numerous leisure activities the city offers.