Logan Sork Film Reviews
A Beautiful Mind
I went into this film without having heard a single thing about it. I heard it was good and it was directed by Ron Howard (one of my favorite directors). I heard very little about the plot, only that it was a bout a mathematician and his journey through life with a different outlook on it. So, I expected a somewhat of an outcast story where the person was dealing with social anxiety or something and would eventually overcome it. Imagine my surprise at the twists and turns that this film takes! It starts off seemingly normal as Russell Crowe’s character navigates his way through life, but the film soon takes a sharp turn into an unfeeling glimpse into a life rocked y mental illness and how it impacts the victim, and the people around them. This film Is a perfect example of how you can manipulate one’s expectations to tell an even deeper and heartbreaking story about how mental illness impacts one’s life.
The film tells the story of John Nash (Crowe), a socially awkward mathematician who studies at Princeton university. His studies bring him to meet many people along the way, including his wife Alicia (Jennifer Connolly) and his roommate Charles (Paul Bettney). His work eventually brings him in the spotlight of the US government, where he begins to decode Russian transmissions during the cold war. His life is going well, but his job begins to cause anxiety and paranoia in his life. We soon learn that John has schizophrenia and that some people in his life have been figments of his own imagination. We then watch as John struggles to overcome this mental illness with the help of his wife, before his mind consumes him.
I was blown away by how this film completely turned from one story to another in the most natural way possible. It managed to switch seamlessly from telling a romantic love story in the first half of the film to a struggle with mental illness, without really missing a beat. Part of this is because of Akiva Goldsman’s excellent script, which decides not to force the idea of Nash having a mental illness into the audience within the first act of the film. Coupled with Howard’s excellent direction, there are subtle hints that are dropped for the audience to pick up on, all without truly revealing the deep hardship that lies beneath Nash’s relationships.
Along with the direction and script, the technical elements of the film are beautiful. The cinematography by helps capture the true world that John is living in as well as the false one which he has imagined, though they are both equally as beautiful. The set design and costumes also work to showcase the film’s period setting while also working to present the mindset of its lead character. The films visual effects, though minimal, are beautiful and helps show just how Nash’s mind works and shows the beauty of his way of looking at the world. The make up in this film is amazing. So often makeup artists choose very exaggerated techniques to help age up the characters. The artist who worked on this film used very subtle skills to help show a natural aging process as we follow our characters through the story.
The cast is also excellent. Russell Crowe is amazing in this film, as he gives a perfectly nuanced and believable performance of someone who is deeply struggling with his mind. He never comes across as over the top even at his most intense moments, helping to sell the believability of his character as a real-life person. Jennifer Connolly is equally as excellent as John’s wife Alicia. She is the perfect companion who helps John in his difficult journey. What truly makes her performance stand out is that there are times when she is genuinely afraid and can’t handle the stress. She is not immune to being affected by his illness, something that most films of the subject manner are afraid of doing. The supporting cast is excellent as well, with the real standouts being Paul Bettany as Charles, John’s roommate and friend as well as Ed Harris as William Parcher, Nash’s military partner.
There are some pacing issues in the film that must be addressed. There is a certain point towards the middle of the film where I began to wonder “Is this really going anywhere” it really felt like an odd feeling towards the middle of the film. The focus on the romantic relationship took up a majority of the first half of the film. This is all good as it is a very compelling love story, but it got to the point where I was beginning to wonder if we were stuck turning wheels with this couple. There is also an action sequence which does help present just how paranoid Nash has become, but other than that it doesn’t really add much to the story and feels out of place in an otherwise excellent drama.
Aside from those problems A Beautiful Mind is a fantastic film. Filled with brilliant performances, direction, writing and other technical elements, the film is an excellent look into not only the toll of mental illness on one’s life, but how overcoming it is the greatest achievement that one can have.
8.5/10