A beautiful mind "A Beautiful Mind's" inarguably greatest strength is a beautiful performance by Russell Crowe, whose depiction of schizophrenic genius John Forbes Nash Jr. is continuously compelling--even through the most vexing moments of heavy sentimentality and unabashed melodrama. Based on the life of the Nobel Prize-winning mathematical theorist, Crowe's big-screen invocation of Nash mirrors his Oscar-awarded and -nominated depictions, respectively, of a fallen Roman general in "Gladiator" and a tormented scientist in "The Insider," …showed first 75 words of 339 total…

…showed last 75 words of 339 total…actors favorites for Academy Award nominations. However, while the movie explores the mechanics of an extraordinarily brilliant mind, it doesn't seem to extend any presupposition of intelligence to its audience. Seemingly untrusting of the viewers' ability to be moved by the onscreen performances, the musical score is unrelentingly intrusive in attempting to guide emotional reactions. Similarly, Nash's groundbreaking theoretical work is conveyed through the most frivolous of metaphors, minimizing the singularity of his intellectual contributions.