Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Ron Howard

I had my doubts about Russell Crowe while everyone praised him for his role in Gladiator. He was a bit too stolid in movies like Gladiator and L.A. Confidential. However, after having seen A Beautiful Mind, I have a new found respect for him. It happens to be a good movie as well.

Russell Crowe plays John F. Nash, a budding mathematician and a pioneer of game theory. The movie follows his successes in his field (not to mention nabbing the very beautiful Jennifer Connelly, who plays Alicia), and his battle with paranoid-schizophrenia. At this point, A Beautiful Mind takes on a depressing mood that has the audience live through Nash's delusions.

The thing that carries this movie is definitely the acting performances. Russell Crowe does an excellent job as a man slowly slipping into madness. Jennifer Connelly delivers the affectionate touch to help Nash. Rounding out the great acting is Ed Harris and Paul Bettany (aka Chaucer in A Knight's Tale) who manages to steal every scene he's in, including those with Crowe.

Although there's a controversy concerning the omission of certain events in the real John Nash's life, the movie is still very entertaining, if not depressing. Check it out! You might even learn a thing or two about game theory.