The plot of A Beautiful Mind is relatively simple, as we follow a brilliant math student who climbs the academic ladder but also dives into the dark waters of mental illness.

The way this story is told, though, elevates the movie to the next level. It's not easy to fit an entire lifespan in two hours, but the movie flows naturally and handles the various changes in mood (it jumps from comedy to romance to thriller to drama). Any trick or technique used isn't meant to show off, it feels like an organic part of the story. Another thing the movie achieves is offering us a glimpse of schizophrenia's effect on the human mind, making us question what's real and spreading a sense of doubt that can't be shaken off.

However, all the above is secondary and the elephant in the room has to be addressed, namely the absolutely mesmerising performance delivered by Russell Crowe.

Apart from the increasingly disturbing scenes that show the development of his state of mind, there are many other memorable scenes as well, for example his social awkwardness when flirting with a girl and informs her that intercourse is merely an exchange of body fluids, or his first date with Alicia where he creates any shape with the help of the star system and of course the scene where he receives the pens of his peers and with them their recognition.

As it often happens with biographies, it isn't 100% accurate, there are some changes for dramatic effect. The most obvious example is probably his relationship with his wife, which was way bumpier than portrayed here and actually led to a divorce at some point. Also, the fact that his son suffers from similar issues could have been brought up, but the movie was fully invested in a feel-good ending, declaring love as the winner that overcomes any problem.