ThestoryisbasedonthelifeofJohnForbesNash,Jr.,amathematicianandNobellaureatewhosufferedfromschizophrenia.Thefilmgivesusauniquefirstpersonperspectiveofthedisease,drawingusintohisworldandallowingustoseewhatNashsees.Howard'spresentationisbrilliant.AtfirstNashispresentedasabiteccentric,butlucid.Asweexperiencehisworld,realityandillusionaresoperfectlyintertwinedthatwearenotsurewheretheworldendsandthemindbegins.ByfoolingtheaudienceHowardmakesthesubtlepointthattotheschizophrenicitallseemsreal.InattemptingtoevaluateNash'sworldwegetadistantunderstandingoftheconfusionthatresultswhenarationalpersonattemptstocopewithaworldthatispartrealandparthallucination.

　　Whilethisisabiopic,itismorefictionthanfact.AgreatdealofdramaticlicenseistakensinceNashfreelyadmitsthathehaslittlerecollectionoftheyearswhenhesufferedfromthedisease.ThepowerfulspeechattheendofthefilmwherehethankshiswifeafterreceivinghisNobelPrizeispureHollywood.IncludedintheDVDisfootageoftheactualNobelceremonyandnospeechesweregiven.Yet,wecanforgivethelatitudetakenbecausethestoryissoinspirational.

　　Fromaproductionstandpoint,specialnotemustbegiventothemakeupdepartment,whichagesRussellCrowesomagnificently.Asthemovieprogressesthroughfourdecades,Nashisrealisticallydepictedandagedappropriately.Likewise,theartdepartmentdoesafinejobrenderingfourdifferentperiods,matchingcostumes,propsandsetstothetimes.

　　Yet,withallthefineproductionvalues,thisfilmexcelsmostintheacting.RussellCroweturnsinacareerperformanceinacareerabundantingreatperformances.ThischaracteristheantithesisoftheRussellCrowewe'vecometoexpect.Insteadofstrong,toughandbalanced,withasharpworldlyintelligence,heplaysaneccentricandconvolutedmanwithquirks,nervoushabitsandapsycheobviouslyoutofbalance.Crowecompletelyimmerseshimselfintheenormousvolumeoftherole,effortlesslymovingbetweenitselementsfromaudacitytoparanoiatotendernesstogenius.ThisisanaccomplishmentthatislightyearsbeyondhisAcademyAwardperformancein`Gladiator',goodasitwas.

　　JenniferConnellyputsherselfonthemapwithanOscarforbestsupportingactress.ItisalwaysdifficulttoavoidgettinglostinthepresenceofanactoraspowerfulasCrowe,butConnellystaysrightwithhim,deliveringamovingperformanceasNash'ssteadfastwife.

　　EdHarriswasmyfavoritetonoseoutCroweforbestactorinlastyear'sAcademyAwards.HarrisgaveabrilliantperformanceplayingJacksonPollockin`Pollock'(alsofeaturingJenniferConnellyinasmallrole)thatwastrampledunderbythe`Gladiator'Oscarjuggernaut.Asiftosay,`Ifyoucan'tbeathim,joinhim',HarrisgoestoetotoewithCroweinsomeofthemostintensescenesinthefilm.HarrislendssignificantenergyandintriguetothemoviewithanurgentperformanceastheoperativewhorecruitsNashtobreakcodesforthegovernment.

　　Thisfilmisnothingshortoffantastic.Itisexpertlydirected,superblyactedandmeticulouslycrafted.Itpresentsgreatdramawhilealsobringinginsightintoastigmatizingdiseasetoawideaudience.