I'll admit that I was a little biased against Russell Crowe. Last year he had won the best actor Oscar for his role in Gladiator, and I did not think that was an Oscar caliber role. It was a role in which there was very little acting. Also, in real life, he had stolen Meg Ryan away from Dennis Quaid. He, in my eyes, is now a homewrecker. Russell Crowe just seemed to be everywhere and I was now sick of him.
Now this movie has him as John Nash. And he is no Gladiator, in fact he is the complete opposite. He would have fit in with the gang from Revenge of the Nerds. He really does a good job. I am now pulling for him to win the Oscar for this role, but he probably won't because I'm usually wrong.
I had never heard of John Nash. I didn't know what he had done or had gone through, therefore, everything that happens is new to me. The movie starts in his college years (in which he attempts what I myself couldn't do - graduate college without attending a class) and continues on throughout the rest of his life. The movie starts off in one mode and as you get settled with that mode, it takes a crazy twist and takes on a new mode and becomes a whole new movie. This really caught me off guard and I liked it. Without ruining the movie for you, the plot just develops a new plot in itself.
The movie is full of drama can be extremely sentimental at times. Ron Howard was really trying to egg it on for the audience. Jennifer Connelly (remember her from the Rocketeer & Opportunity Knocks?) carries a heavy role as John Nash's love interest and she is shown as a strong willed person that compliments the Crowe character. The rest of the cast does a good job too. Ed Harris (who usually annoys me) does a convincing job as a government/militant strategist. The Chaucer guy from a Knight's Tale is in this too as John Nash's best friend. I also think I saw Henry Thomas (E.T. boy now grown up).
So to sum up: Good movie, good acting, moved me, watch it.