Cinema March of 2002
Article by Angela Zierow
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Four Golden Globes were awarded to the drama starring Russell Crowe as the egomaniac
mathematical genius John Forbes Nash Jr. who was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia
for 30 years and won the Nobel Prize in 1994.
Aristotle had already assumed that genius must reside in close proximity to madness.
John Forbes Nash Jr., now 73 years old, was a doctor of mathematics at Princeton
University at the tender age of 22. He was an eccentric genius who developed
paranoid schizophrenia at age 30, from which he did not recover until 1990, being
awarded the Nobel Prize for his work about game theory four years later.
It was only logical that Hollywood was going to turn the suffering of the mad
professor into a movie one day. The life story of the father of game theory was
romanticized and smoothed out, thus providing it with a number of issues needed for
the movie's success: authenticity, love, pain and a thrill.
Thus you get what you've paid for, especially when you're playing it safe with the
director as well: Ron Howard has already shown in movies such as "Apollo 13" what
strong material heroes are made of. But in this one he has gone too far.
"A Beautiful Mind" is a little bit of everything: a love story, a spy thriller and
a drama and this is why it's not really anything of the above, let alone the fantastic
journey into the head of a disturbed mind.
The only reason why we are touched deeply in the best moments of this odd mixture of
genres is the intense co-acting of Oscar winner Russell Crowe as the mathematical
genius and Jennifer Connelly as his grief stricken wife Alicia. You don't need to
apply mathematics, though, to predict a good chance for these two Golden Globe
winners in the Oscar race. They are convincing and the jury has proved to having a
soft spot for mentally challenged heroes even pre "Rain Man" and "Shine".
Cinema March of 2002
A JOB THAT GAVE HIM NIGHTMARES
Interview by Scott Orlin
Mathematics is hell. It provided Oscar awarded Russell Crowe with nightmares.
Q: You play a mathematician in "A Beautiful Mind". What about your own mathematical
skills?
A: I am not a person who loves numbers very much. In High School I had a Hungarian
Maths teacher who hardly spoke English. So I used to do the homework for my other
classes during his lessons (laughs).
Q: So do you have any idea at all what you are talking about in the movie?
A: I've read a lot. This provided me only with some basic knowledge, of course,
but it helped me understand the brilliance of Nash Jr as well as his curse of having
to find the scientific evidence of problems he already knew by his intuition were
right. He is an artist rather than a mathematician.
Q: And he is a schizophrenic genius. Have you ever met Nash?
A: He paid us a visit to the set. But to prepare for the role I preferred watching
videos of him. 35 years of schizophrenia do leave their mark on a person.
Q: The role is said to have left its mark on you as well.
A: When you are dealing with the mind of this guy, you automatically scan through
your own life. This is why I was suffering from nightmares all through the shooting.
By the way, these fucking nightmares have started again since I've begun to give
interviews about the movie (laughs.)
**********************************
There is also a full page article about Jennifer Connelly in "Cinema" that
talks about her career and her acting, of course. What they say about ABM is this:
In "A Beautiful Mind" Jennifer Connelly is Alicia, the wife of schizophrenic
mathematics professor John Nash (Russell Crowe). For the sake of love she
sacrifices her own needs, but she is not a martyr. Jennifer Connelly is
showing Alicia's conflict of emotions, her anger of having to sacrifice her
own needs and her helplessness regarding John's delusions.
"I wanted this role so much" she says with a laugh "that I was sure I was not
going to get it." But director Ron Howard was looking for a "true veteran"
who was able to face a massive presence like Russell Crowe. And what is he
like to work with? "Russell is a challenge" she answers. Jennifer Connelly
is always seeking challenges. In her vacations she climbs mountains and she
has done "The Hulk" with "Tiger and Dragon" director Ang Lee.....
Stern no. 10 of February 28, 2002
HIS WAY OUT OF MADNESS
by Bianca Lang [NOTE: a female interviewer! Finally!!!]
The life story of schizophrenic Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash was turned into
a wonderful fairy tale. In the Hollywood movie "A Beautiful Mind" Russell Crowe plays
the genius who almost went desperate from being haunted by delusions.
Her heart is almost breaking, standing in front of a window and seeing him like this.
He is strapped to a hospital bed, convulsing as if he was getting electro shocks.
This is only insulin, the shocks are to be applied later. But there is no other way.
He almost drowned the baby in the bathtub, after all, after being more and more
absorbed by this strange world of his. His delusions had become unbearable. In this
very moment behind the window Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) realizes that her life
with John (Russell Crowe) will never be the same again. For more than 25 years her
husband, the genius, is to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. He will become the
derided ghost of Princeton, haunting the campus uncouth and unkempt, leaving cryptic
messages
on windows or riding his bike in figure eights, the mathematical symbol for
infinity. And one day - but she cannot foresee this, seeing him behind this window
helplessly now - he will win over his disease and thank her for her loyalty and her
love on delivering his Nobel Prize acceptance speech.
"A Beautiful Mind" is the title of the movie telling the tragedy and the
triumphant return of John Forbes Nash. This story sounds like a Hollywood invention,
but it is based on the true life story of the mathematician who was awarded the
Nobel Prize for Economy in 1994.
In Ron Howard's drama Russell Crowe plays Mr. Nash, who is now 73, ranging from the
time when he was an eccentric student and the long time of his decline until that
surprising happy ending. One would not have expected this role of the Australian
leisure time farmer who conquered our hearts as the protector of Rome dressed in
sandals and a leather skirt and who advanced to being a sex symbol, which he never
intended to be. Crowe has become a household name by means of movies like
"The Insider" or "L.A. Confidential". But it was "Gladiator" that he got an Oscar
for. Now he is fighting inner demons instead of tigers in the arena.
He prepared extensively for the role, read Nash's theories and Sylvia Nasar's
biography on which the movie is based. During the shooting of the movie the
37-year-old actor was suffering from nightmares. "I was imagining what it must
be like when half of what you think is real, just is not there" he says.
Nash, who was born in Virginia in 1928, already at the age of 28 was regarded
as "one of the brightest stars of new Mathematics" (quote from "Fortune") for
his research in the field of game theory. This man, who was attractive,
athletically built and married with a beautiful woman at that, lost
everything to his mental illness when he was at the peak of his career: his job
and later also his wife. He suffered from delusions, fled to Europe, was legally
incapacitated, put into mental institutions and was once arrested for sexual
harassment in a public men's room. The movie does not mention his homosexual
tendencies, his divorce and the fact that Nash had a son out of wedlock and dumped
him and his mother. Nothing that could diminish the audience's sympathies for the
sick man was going to be put on the screen.
Schizophrenia is regarded as incurable, but Nash won over his disease. Strangely
enough it happened at a time when he was not treated any more. "It's due to him
leading a calm life" Alicia says, who remarried Nash last year. The couple paid a
visit to the set. "I asked him" Crowe says "if he wanted tea or coffee and he
lectured about it for about 15 minutes."
Hollywood has a soft spot for people who cross the border between genius and madness.
Crowe got one of the eight Oscar nominations for "A Beautiful Mind". But of course,
he grunts "it's total bollocks" that he chose the role because of that. The only thing
that's important to him is "getting Goosebumps" when he is offered a role. Crowe is
regarded as difficult by directors and as surly by the press. He does not get up when
he salutes somebody, he smokes a lot and never smiles, he just giggles occasionally
about his own jokes. He is sitting there unshaven, with a beer-paunch and dressed
in a work shirt and you ask yourself what Meg Ryan may have liked about him. He says
he doesn't "give a fuck" what people or Hollywood think of him, or his fans who throw
underpants at him when he is playing with his band "30 Odd Foot of Grunts". This is
"highly unhygienic" as he says. "The only thing that should count is my doing an art
form that deals with the exploration of the human nature" he says, as if he himself
was standing in front of the Nobel Prize Committee.
He has reached his goal in spite of everything. The most important critic of the movie
was content, but he didn't want to give interviews. John Nash sent a message, telling
that he had lost so much time of his life that now every minute was precious to him.
The Making of A Beautiful Mind
[Clip of Nash talking with Charles about needing to find a truly original idea]
Russell Crowe: I read this book and had an immediate physical reaction to it.
Ron Howard: This is a heartbreaking story that tells about survival. It's a powerful
and fascinating journey.
Voice over: A Beautiful Mind, which is nominated for 8 Oscars, is one of THE movie
events of the year, taken to the screen by Apollo 13 director Ron Howard. Russell
Crowe, Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly star in this movie about the life and the
suffering of a genius mathematician.
[footage from the set]
Brian Grazer, producer: This movie is a compelling human drama, inspired by the
life of John Nash.
Ron Howard: I think a lot of people are scared of not meeting their own expectations.
Geniuses set their expectations even higher.
[clip of Nash telling Charles how lectures and rehashing of other people's ideas make
your mind dull]
Russell Crowe: I suppose in a way it's about believing 100 per cent in yourself and
your dreams.
Ron Howard: Nash found a challenge and accepted it. What it was all about for him was
to find his peace of mind.
Jennifer Connelly: The transformation of their relationship and their journey
together is precious.
Ron Howard: It deals with genius, madness and love and the role all this has played
in John Nash's life, this is Nash's journey.
voice over: Howard's drama, a free adaptation of Sylvia Nasar's biography, is based
on events in the life of Nobel Prize winner and mathematician John Forbes Nash.
Sylvia Nasar: In doing the book I encountered an amazing human drama that happened in
this elitist, secluded scientific world of Princeton.
[clip of students' reception, Nash talking with Hansen]
Brian Grazer: He was in that elite world with people like Einstein, that was dominated
by strong competition. This was where John Nash lived.
[clip: Nash saying he is not going to waste his time with lectures]
Russell Crowe: We first enter the movie with his first day in Princeton.
Ron Howard: He had enough confidence or arrogance if you will, to do things his own
way. He isolated himself. He was very clumsy socially and he was kind of fundamentally
alone.
[clip of Nash telling Charles that he doesn't much like people and they don't much
like him. ]
Russell Crowe: He was able to look at a roomful of equations and to just KNOW the
solution. His problem was to prove to people why he was right.
[clip of the scene in the bar with the blonde and Nash explaining his new theory of
how they all can win]
Ron Howard: His breakthrough in game theory that he achieved in Princeton later won
him a Nobel Prize.
voice over: For adapting Nash's biography for the big screen, producer Brian Grazer
hired script writer Akiva Goldsman. To him the life of the mathematical genius is
something very special.
Akiva Goldsman: What's compelling about his life story are the many highs and lows
of his long journey, which was sometimes hard, but always inspiring and dramatic,
a really eventful life.
Russell Crowe: Akiva Goldsman did an incredibly good and hard job in finding out the
outstanding moments in John Nash's life and in composing an overwhelming story.
Christopher Plummer: I was enchanted by this story, not only because it's beautifully
written, but also because it's so incredibly touching.
Ron Howard: It's a very unique character study, a very special life story that's so
different to anyone else's life.
voice over: After his success in Princeton, Nash starts working for the MIT, where
he meets his future wife Alicia.
Jennifer Connelly: He already had the reputation of an outstanding scientist then.
[clip of the classroom with Nash talking about this lecture being a waste of the
students' and - even worse - his own time]
Jennifer Connelly: I think that she is very much impressed by his genius and is
seduced by that. She figures he is what she wants. She finds this man interesting,
and so she is making it happen.
[clip of the party at the in Governor's house with her tucking her handkerchief into
Nash's breast pocket]
Jennifer Connelly: She is very bright in her way. I think Alicia is just looking for
a man that is her match. Even though she is very heroic in what she's doing in her
life, she is in no way perfect. The interesting thing about their love story is that
it's so human.
[clip of their first kiss]
Voice over: but the life of John Nash is getting complicated when the mysterious
William Parcher shows up, played by Ed Harris.
[clip of Parcher telling Nash to search the papers for hidden codes]
Ed Harris: I tell him what to do and what I want from him. And when he cooperates,
I tell him that there's no way back. Once you've signed, you don't get away.
Jennifer Connelly: He very much locks her out. He is totally isolated and obviously
in turmoil, but she cannot find out why.
Ed Harris: He objects to his part in Parcher's projects more and more. Nash is
frustrated and their relation darkens a bit.
[ some clips illustrating that]
voice over: With his role as John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind" Russell Crowe has now
earned himself his second Oscar nomination after "Gladiator"
[ NOTE: didn't they know about his nomination for the Insider???]
Russell Crowe: Usually when you are portraying real life persons, they are people of
public life. You have footage you can look at. You can hear their voices or learn how
they grew up and all that sort of stuff. But Nash was the exact opposite. He was like
a phantom.
Ron Howard: John Nash is a very complex character and the actor who is embodying him,
needs to have a certain presence and charisma in order to keep the audience's interest
in the character alive for a long period of time. You need an actor who has the talent
and the verve for this and with Russell Crowe you get all that.
[ clip of Nash in hospital asking Alicia to help him get out]
Brian Grazer: Well, Russell has an ability to communicate solely with his eyes like
hardly anyone else can. He has an enormous screen impact.
Jennifer Connelly: It's really interesting watching him. What he does is very complex.
He has an extremely difficult job in this movie and he does it very gracefully.
[clip of the middle aged Nash on his veranda, talking about wanting to amaze them,
so they'll hire him again.... but that the medication makes it difficult for him to
think.]
voice over: The movie makers hired a unique crew of actors for "A Beautiful Mind".
Two of them have been nominated for an Oscar: Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly.
Ron Howard: Jennifer has really improved over the past few years. Her screen presence
is unique. She has integrity and beauty and is a great fit of this character.
[ clip of Nash and Alicia in the kitchen,. the garbage man scene]
Jennifer Connelly: I read the script and was completely moved by it. It is full of
interesting and strong characters. The story of their marriage was incredibly moving
for me.
Brian Grazer: There is definitely a great chemistry between the two of them that's
visible on many different levels.
Russell Crowe: I could work with Christopher Plummer again. It was Ron's idea to cast
him and he was an excellent choice for the part of Dr. Rosen.
[clip of Dr. Rosen talking with Alicia]
Christopher Plummer: This is an interesting and mysterious character. When he is
introduced, the audience can not be sure about who and what he is.
[clip of Nash trying to run a way from Dr. Rosen]
Ron Howard: I love to work with actors. I rushed to the set every day, even though it
wasn't always easy. Our discussions would get very intense at times. But this just
carried us further. Thus we were able to get the full potential of the story.
Eventually we all thought this was a story worth telling.
voice over: Movie composer James Horner provided the music. He won an Oscar for
"Titanic" and also composed the music for the astronaut drama Apollo 13.
[clip of Horner conducting the orchestra]
James Horner: We had this vague idea for a continuous, abstract theme. Music and high
mathematics have one thing in common: on a certain level it's not about notes or
numbers and solutions any more. It's like looking through a kaleidoscope, turning it
slightly and making things change gradually. These changes then develop further and
further.
Ron Howard: We had a great conversation about John Nash and the complexity of his
struggle, his development and his isolation. He was facing the challenge to balance
genius with soul.
[ clip of Nash "proposing" to Alicia]
voice over: Ron Howard won the race for the much wanted director's chair. He is one
of the most successful movie directors of the past ten years.
Ron Howard: It's an unusual and fascinating story that reaches into levels of life
that not everybody can understand. But at the same time it's very relatable.
Russell Crowe: He is dealing with an unusual topic. One of his great skills is knowing
exactly what he's talking about and what he wants to achieve. The best thing a
director can do is just try any offer you are making him and to be open for what
you're doing. Thus you're always alert for these very special moments in which
something good turns into something magnificent. Ron used me like a recorder and
told me his ideas. I like this kind of responsibility. It gives me a feeling of being
totally a part of the making of the movie. I loved to sit down with him and share
his thoughts. Did you realize that I am having a lot of fun?
Ron Howard: It's a very rewarding job. You see something coming to life. You utter
your thoughts, you make offers and this process can be very exciting. It is really
very powerful what such great actors are doing with their wonderful roles.
[clips mixed from various scenes ]
Ron Howard: The greatest victory in the movie and in John Nash's life is the love
story. The love story is the prevailing element, the basis of it all. Only the love
between John and Alicia made this victory possible. This is real and not a delusion.
[clip of the proposal]
Ron Howard: As soon as he realizes how important love is, he feels safe. It's all
about this development, and I can relate to this very well.
Jennifer Connelly: I think something in their story will always remain a miracle.
They live in their own universe.
Russell Crowe: You mustn't forget that they're still together.
Ron Howard: There's this theme that appealed to me. It's about love and the possibility
that love can heal.
[clip of Alicia talking to Nash: "What if the part of us that knows waking from the
dream .... what if it isn't here... (touches his head) what if it's here? (touches
his heart)]
Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly in "A Beautiful Mind" opening in theaters on
February 28.
-- and that's today's news from Germany..
Translation by Ute
