A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director

Ron Howard

County

United States

Cast

Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Josh Lucas, Adam Goldberg, Anthony Rapp, Vivien Cardone, Christopher Plummer, Judd Hirsch, Jason Gray-Stanford

Plot

The film tells the story of John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe), a mathematical genius, who made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim.

But soon Nash finds himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery once he is diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Opinion

I tried to watch this film about a year ago, but I didn't like it and I quit. I gave it another try and it was worth it. A Beautiful Mind is a fantastic film, and a great tribute to the life of John Nash. Although mathematics is a pillar of the plot, the film is never boring.

Ron Howard does an amazing job engaging the audience, and making them experience mental illness. Akira Goldman's screenplay, based on Sylvia Nasar's A Beautiful Mind, is brilliant. 

Russell Crowe is excellent. He does not act as Nash, he is Nash. The way he conveys mental illness is amazing. The elaborate makeup partially age Nash, Crowe does the rest. And most important, Crowe does not overshadow Nash. Jennifer Connelly is amazing as well as supporting actress. The chemistry between them is amazing.

Quotes

Dr. Rosen: Imagine if you suddenly learned that the people, the places, the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse, had never been. What kind of hell would that be?

Nash: What truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me to the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. I have made the most important discovery of my career - the most important discovery of my life. It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic or reasons can be found. I am only here tonight because of you. [looking at his wife] You are the only reason I am. You are all my reasons. Thank you.

Rating

8.8/10

Rush (2013)

Genre

Action | Biography | Drama

Director
Ron Howard

Country
Germany | United Kingdom | United States

Cast
Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino, David Calder, Natalie Dormer, Stephen Mangan, Christian McKay, Alistair Petrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Colin Stinton, Jamie de Courcey, Ilario Calvo, Sean Edwards, Martin J Smith, Rob Austin, Tom Wlaschiha

Plot
James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) are two highly skilled race car drivers who first develop a fierce rivalry in 1970 at a Formula 3 race at the Crystal Palace circuit in England. 

Hunt is a brash, young Englishman with a tendency to drink and vomit before every race, while Lauda is a cool, calculating Austrian technical genius who relies on precision.

After a falling out with his father, Lauda take a large bank loan and buys his way into the BRM - British Racing Motors - Formula 1 team, meeting teammate Clay Regazzoni (Pierfrancesco Favino) for the first time. Meanwhile, Hesketh Racing, the racing team Hunt drives for, enters Formula 1 as well. Lauda then joins Scuderia Ferrari with Regazzoni and wins his first championship in 1975.

In 1976, the fierce rivalry between Hunt and Lauda will reach the peak.

Opinion
As a Formula 1 fan, I already knew about the rivalry between the two of them, and, though I've only read about it, I was afraid the film could have been a disappointment: so it wasn't. Rush is a brilliant film that deserves to be watched at least once. 

Peter Morgan's screenplay is good, but it wouldn't be the same without the two stars of this film, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, which portrayed Hunt and Lauda almost perfectly.

Quotes
A wise man can learn more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel. It's a wonderful way to live. It's the only way to drive.
Happiness is your biggest enemy. It weakens you. Puts doubts in your mind. Suddenly you have something to lose.

Rating
8.0/10