US (2001): Drama/Romance
A Beautiful Mind manages to twist enough pathos out of John Nash's incredible life story to redeem an at-times goofy portrayal of schizophrenia. Russell Crowe tackles the role with characteristic fervor, playing the Nobel prize-winning mathematician from his days at Princeton, where he developed a groundbreaking economic theory, to his meteoric rise to the cover of Forbes magazine and an MIT professorship, and on through to his eventual dismissal due to schizophrenic delusions. Of course, it is the delusions that fascinate director Ron Howard and, predictably, go astray. Nash's other world, populated as it is by a maniacal Department of Defense agent (Ed Harris), an imagined college roommate who seems straight out of Dead Poet's Society, and an orphaned girl, is so fluid and scriptlike as to make the viewer wonder if schizophrenia is really as slick as depicted. Crowe's physical intensity drags us along as he works admirably to carry the film on his considerable shoulders. No doubt the story of Nash's amazing will to recover his life without the aid of medication is a worthy one, his eventual triumph heartening. Unfortunately, Howard's flashy style is unable to convey much of it. (Amazon.com)
8 nominations, 4 Awards
· Best Motion Picture of the Year 2001: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Producers
· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2001: Jennifer Connelly
· Best Achievement in Directing 2001: Ron Howard
· Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 2001: Written by Akiva Goldsman
· Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2001: Russell Crowe
· Achievement in Film Editing 2001: Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
· Achievement in Makeup 2001: Greg Cannom and Colleen Callaghan
· Achievement in Music in Connection with Motion Pictures (Original Score) 2001: James Horner