A Beautiful Mind

Ron Howard, 2001 (8.4*)
Best Picture (AA, GG)
This look at the life of brilliant mathmatician John Nash becomes also a study of schizophrenia. As a student, Nash shows signs of brilliance, coupled with an obsession with irrelevant minutae, such as the feeding patterns of pidgeons. Later, he is asked to work on top secret cryptography for the government, and descends into his own imaginative mind. Russell Crowe turned in his most versatile performance to date, understated enough to be his most credible role.

Not an easy biopic to watch, but nevertheless one of the finest cinematic snapshots of madness, along with The Three Faces of Eve and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Beautiful co-star Jennifer Connelly, who plays Nash's wife, won 9 supporting actress awards, likely many for her snub for the incredible performance in 2000's Requiem for a Dream, in which she played a drug addict willing to perform girl-on-girl shows to get drug money.

Director Ron Howard's most successful film, was a winner of Oscars® for best picture, director, supporting actress, and screenplay, and 31 awards overall, including four for picture. Awards page at IMDB