Jackson Wallace

I still can't believe that this film got the best-picture Oscar. Gladiator was a better movie and along with Forgiven I consider these 3 to be the worst movies to win best picture awards since 1970. I'm leaving Chicago out of this roster, because I'm a drama major and have a bit of a soft spot for that sort of stuff. Still it was not a better film than The Two Towers.

Adam

To the last post. I think A Beautiful Mind is absolutely spellbinding. It's easily one of Ron Howard's best and Russell Crowe's performance is astonishing. Gladiator was definitely less worthy of the best picture honor in my opinion and so was Chicago for that matter. I liked the musical, but it pales in comparison to Moulin Rouge and certainly it had nothing on some of the other nominees that particular year (most notably The Pianist). I really think A Beautiful Mind gets a bad rap. It was expertly crafted. It wasn't the best movie of it's year, but for me, it was certainly in the top 10.

JJ

I preferred Russell Crowes other Oscar nominated film, Gladiator - or as I call it A Beautiful Body.

James

John Nash is a mathematical genius and has been accepted into one of the top graduate schools in the country, Princeton. There the top minds of the late 1940's are all vying to make a name for themselves as the world of mathematics has gained some fame because of the victory in the war only a few years gone by. But John Nash does not want to be like the other students just churning out ideas and papers on other peoples work he wants to come up with the an original idea that is all his. In an effort to find this idea he never attends classes and spends all his time devoted to his search. About to fail out of school John does find his original idea that gains him a certain level of notoriety. His astonishing discovery so early in his career brings him to the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash will soon find himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery once he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His schizophrenia is advanced enough that he sees other people and he believes he is part of a secret government agency that is breaking Soviet codes that are being sent through magazines. His belief of this not only makes him a danger to himself but to other as well as he can never be certain what is real and what is in his mind. It is these delusions that can ruin his life and possibly have him locked away forever but with the love of a beautiful women he meets and marries John will go on a journey to find himself once more and defeat the demons in his life.

Based on a true story the movie skips over some of the more intense and even embarrassing moments in the life of John Nash. But the story basically remains in tact about a man who once stood on the heights of success and because of a sickness that he cannot help finds himself at the bottom trying to fight his way back up. It is a touching story and brings even more poignancy for the sheer fact that is all based on the true events and life of a very courageous man that overcame all obstacles to succeed in life. Russell Crowe's performance was even better than in last years gladiator as he delves into a world of madness and shows that he truly does have great acting skills. His portrayal of Nash is one of those performances we will always remember and an Oscar contending acting brilliance. Jennifer Connelly who plays John Nash's wife also puts in an incredible job as she must struggle with what his illness means for both of them as she considers leaving him at times. In real life she did leave him for awhile but the movie does show this allowing for her to be the strong partner that John eventually derives all his strength from. It is hard to not be moved by this film as it shows all the things that you have to love in a drama and a story about someone who overcomes all the odds to win a very personal battle.