A Beautiful Mind

a beautiful misconception, but that's life

I am not too fond of this movie, nor people's reactions to it. Some say schizophrenia is strictly caused by failure of brain chemistry (or neurological wiring) and I can tell you from personal experience that this is true, but not universally applicable. On the flip side, a lot of people react to the sentimentality of the film, because Nash was able to manage himself amidst his burden. I applaud him for doing this (especially without medication), but the film makes it look like he can cope with it much like folks outside the schizophrenic experience deal with emotional issues that nag them day to day. (May I state that I do not consider any emotional hardship light. I only suggest that dealing with schizophrenia is very different than non-schizophrenics typically wish it to be.) I am glad that this movie drew some attention, but I feel there are better movies and books about the illness. Whether the victim fails or succeeds in dealing with his experience, a good portrayal is only good if it manages to capture the co-mingling of horror, alienation, and confusion (among other things). Beautiful Mind does this to some extent, but not enough to satisfy me. It has too many misconceptions. That being said, I would still recommend this movie to anyone who wants an initial glance into schizophrenia -as long as they are instructed adequately as to what is Hollywood and what is closer to the real deal. If you are interested in checking out more stuff, look for the attributes I cited. Never shy from those which end tragically, and be skeptical of positive endings. A not-too-good of a resolution is typically the best you're going to get in real life.

A Masterpiece

An incredible film that is suspenseful, thought provoking, and emotionally gripping. A true classic and a staple of any DVD collection.

Still good after several viewings

I still think this is the best look at the mind of a schizophrenic. Yes, it comes wrapped in a handsome Russell Crowe/Jennifer Connelly package but Ron Howard still directed a very good movie! The only other movies that manage to suck you into the mind of a person suffering delusions like this are Donnie Darko and The Machinist...but neither compete with the beauty of this particular movie

A Baeautiful Mind, beautifully done

Russel Crowe delivers an outstanding performance alongside co-actors Ed Harris, Jennifer Conelly and Paul Bettany in this emotionally stimulating film based on the life of mathematical professor John Nash.

Great Story.

"A Beautiful Mind" is quite an incredible story. Contrary to popular belief, this film is not a biography, nor was it meant to be depicted as one. So, if you are basing the movie off of the book, you have the wrong idea. I found this movie to be poignant, and wonderfully acted/directed. It definitely deserved all of the awards it received, and then some.

An awesome story...

When I watched this movie I thought it was incredible! Russel Crowe got robbed for not even getting nominated for best actor. Ron Howard is a very gifted director and this movie is no exeption. See it, it roks!

An Incredibly Capturing Work

A beautiful mind is a film that draws interest to the life of the amazing John Nash and the destructive and unbearable effects of schizophrenia. This story is delivered with the top-most elloquence from both filmakers and the cast. It holds a level of depth that is clearly evident to thoes who have any interest in the lives of the "greats" in the academic world. "A Beautiful Mind" accomplished the stature of a memorable and enduring classic.

Ask Those Who Know

Coming from a family of three people who are challenged and suffer with 'beautiful minds' I turly respect this movie. It gives those who are challenged hope and comfort. It allows those with mental problems to know that they are okay for who they are. It encourages them to be the best they can be, even if that means they will never be what others consider 'normal'. You had better believe that therapist everywhere are seeing a possitive change in their patients who saw this movie, and have since decided that they are 'okay' after all. That they can live their lives, and not have to be ashamed of their differences. That it's okay to be different. That it's all right to be themselves. The movie establishes that those with 'beautiful minds' must follow basic rules like everyone else, but while living within those basic rules, they can have life.

Not So Very Beautiful

I missed seeing A BEAUTIFUL MIND at the cinema and didn't have any desire to own or even rent the DVD, but my husband bought it and insisted I watch it with him, and, of course, I did. I must say, we were both very disappointed in it after hearing such glowing things about it. The premise of A BEAUTIFUL MIND sounds like it could be really first rate: one man's battle to overcome the devastating effects of schizophrenia with the help and support of his wife and, along the way, battling to exercise the 'beautiful mind' with which he was gifted, but about twenty minutes into the film, I realized that I was watching yet another sentimental, cloying version of PATCH ADAMS, a film meant to draw tears, tug at heartstrings and tell us that love can overcome anything, which, of course, it can't. A BEAUTIFUL MIND is supposedly the true story of John Nash (Russell Crowe), but I do think Ron Howard indulged in more than a little poetic license when crafting the 'facts' of this film. I really didn't care about that. I've read the book by Sylvia Nasar and artistic license is something I'm glad to grant any author or filmmaker, just as long as he isn't making documentaries. If the facts of John Nash's life didn't happen exactly as Howard depicted them, so what? What bothered me more was the cloying sentimentality of Nash's marriage and the almost fantasy-like way in which schizophrenia was portrayed. And, I don't think anyone should applaud Nash's decision to battle his schizophrenia without medication. What kind of a selfish, self-serving, inaccurate message is that sending to those who are depressed, anxious, anorexic, bulimic, obsessive-compulsive, schizophrenic and who might suffer from a host of other 'emotional/mental' illnesses, illnesses that are, we know now, chemical in nature and, as such, must be treated with drugs for maximum recovery? Granted, when Nash was diagnosed, not much was known about schizophrenia at all and there were no really effective medications to try to control some of its symptoms. Nash surely had a terrible time of it. Still, I didn't find Nash's choice all that commendable. And, I really didn't like the way Howard chose to portray schizophrenia. He made it seem like some Hollywood montage rather than a genuine physical illness (yes I did mean to write 'physical;' as an illness afflicting brain chemistry, it is physical in nature rather than mental). I don't mean to diminish John Nash's achievement. There can be no downplaying of the fact that he became an MIT professor and won the Nobel Prize, however, he did those things when his illness was in remission. Jennifer Connelly is one of my least favorite actresses, but she did an admirable job in A BEAUTIFUL MIND. I didn't find her performance as earth shattering as did many viewers of this film, but I think that had more to do with the script than with Connelly's acting abilities. The one thing that rescued this film for me was Russell Crowe's magnificently intense performance as John Nash. In a film that leans heavily toward sentimentality and shtick, Crowe did his best to rescue what he could. The problem was, he simply couldn't rescue enough. In the end, I came to the conclusion that there was simply no way anyone could have written A BEAUTIFUL MIND and not slipped into cloying sentimentality. The only way it could have been done would have been to cut the love story and then the film would have portrayed John Nash's life even less accurately. John Nash certainly achieved more than most people can, in reality, ever dream of achieving, but A BEAUTIFUL MIND, I think, in portraying his wife, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) as the 'saving grace' in his life, was the film's downfall and the thing that, for me, at least, caused it to be little more than another trite 'formula romance.' Love is the most beautiful thing in the world, but it's also the hardest, and it rarely overcomes the smaller frustrations of life, let alone schizophrenia. You'

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Boring

I thought that this movie was boring and way to long. I would never buy this movie.

What is the attraction?

I'm sorry, but this movie was simply too boring! I couldn't finish it.

A story for ages

A Beautiful Mind is an epic, gripping story that had to be told, and I am especially glad that it was told in such an amazing manner. Russel Crowe and Jennifer Connely put on amazing preformances, they made me forget that I was watching a movie, and made me feel like i was actually there. I especially liked the take they took on filming it. By starting us out with seeing John Nash's halucenations and making you, yourself question if it is real. It made you feel and care for John, instead of making you think he was completely insane. Awesome movie.

Mine puzzling

This movie was great but also it got you to think. The acting and story line was some of the best in years. Why I say that is that it seems in a lot of movies they have a great story line or they start off great but than suck at the end like the gave up or wonted to finish it up to fast. Beside that this movie had a good impact on me and others.

One of my favorite movies

I completely agree with the 12 year old that wrote the review about a year ago. This movie was truly touching and amazing. Mr. Washington, sorry, but the oscar belongs to Mr. Crowe for his excellent portrayal of John Nash. I totally agree that Mrs. Connelly deserved her oscar. I was so happy that Ron Howard and Brian Graizer received oscars for their great jobs. This movie completely deserved to get best picture (and that was so cool how Tom Hamks announced it)! Well, like I said one of the best movies that I have seen in my life of eleven years.

Truly touching

You have to have appreciation for this film. Sure, it's not a day by day depiction of John Nash's real life, but it covers enough of the basics of his life that you have to realize what he went through. True, his wife did divorce him in ''real'' life, yet, if you read the biography by Sylvia Nasar, she does stay by his side to the very end...you have to agree that that takes a lot of courage and strength. To live a life so full of genius, and then to have the same thing that gives you that gift ''turn'' on you, blows my mind. John Nash achieved way more in his life WITH schizophrenia, than I ever will in my whole life. So, although the film doesn't follow the biography exactly, you have to realize that no film is exactly how the book is written...the main thing is that it shows you that there is diseases, etc in this world and this film is how one man LIVED his life with a horrible disease.

Amazing...takes your heart away.

This was one of the best movies I have seen in my whole short life of 12 yrs. I am sorry Denzel, this Oscar should have gone to Russel Crowe. Jennifer Conelly may keep her Oscar though. (I oved her in Labrynth.) Super job, Ron Howard.

Brilliant

The movie was a kind of its own if i where an editor i would be proud to have viewed such a wonderful movie.This makes u think what you have done if where the actors placeto have to come wiyh an awardwining perfomance.Then for barns and nobles to put at such a cheap price it makes proud to shop online.

One of the best films of 2001!

When I rented A Beautiful Mind, I wanted to see what everybody was fussing about. But After I saw it, I thought it was a great movie. Ron Howard did a great job of directing, and Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris did an excellent job of acting. My only problem was Russell Crowe. Crowe was a bad choice to play John Nash. John Nash was a brilliant man and Russell Crowe made him dull. The film was just as good as the Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring. They both are the best in their categories but the Lord of the Rings was cheated by the Oscars. I thought Jennifer Connelly deserved the oscar for supporting actress but A Beautiful Mind (at least to me) shouldn't have won for best picture. But it is still an excellent film that should be watched.

you must see this movie

russel crowe was awesome in this movie. It is wonderful, I recommend everyone see it. It is one of the best movies I have seen.

Unbelievably Brilliant.

What a beautiful and intriguing movie. The fact that it is based on a true story adds to the ubelievable realization that human beings are capable of such personal accomplishments and achievements, such as those made by John Nash and his wife. How reassuring to be reminded, too, that another person's love and loyalty can help to conquer life's insurmountable odds.