'A Beautiful Mind' is one of those inspirational films about a troubled man struggling against the odds and winning. The kind that do well at the Oscars, like 'Gandhi' or 'Forrest Gump'. Russell Crowe plays John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who developes schizophrenia and loses touch with reality. He deals with his illness with the help of his wife Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). Fashionable cynicism aside, it is a wonderful story, because it's true. Of course some of the nastier things Nash did when he was nuts - like slag Jews - are ignored for the sake of a tighter script and a more appealing hero. This is an example of why the movie is good but not great - director Ron Howard ('Apollo 13', Richie in 'Happy Days') can't quite trust the story. He has to overplay his hand, showing Alicia's nobility and Nash's courage a little heavy-handedly, letting the music soar a bit too much, in short making a Hollywood movie. It's not that 'A Beautiful Mind' is sickening or earnest - there's a surprising amount of laugh-out-loud moments relating to Nash's delusions and some gripping scenes - but there is enough schlock to keep it from being really outstanding.

The performance that sums up how overrated the movie is belongs to Jennifer Connelly. She was widely praised by critics and picked up Best Supporting Actress at the Baftas and Oscars, but frankly she's too beautiful for her role. There are no lines of care on her face, not enough weariness or pain. It's pretty hard to see why she falls for a self-centered, socially inept nerd like Nash. Connelly tries hard, but gives us an angel when we need a real woman.

It is Crowe on whom the movie stands. As a man he may be little more than another Aussie yobbo, but on screen he's a class act. Look around a campus, particularly the Science blocks, and you'll see his young Nash: twitchy, not quite meeting the eye, a little hunched, very smart, the social skills of a hermit crab. Later, in Nash's prime, he becomes more aloof, arrogant, contemptuous of 'lesser mortals'. then the schizophrenia sets in, the nervousness returns and his eyes become sunken and desperate. I can't imagine a more different role than Maximus in 'Gladiator', which shows that Crowe has one hell of a range as an actor. Some may find his performance mannered, but as he spends most of the movie portraying a man on the edge of sanity it works, and works terrifically well.

In the end we are left with a fine film: 'A Beautiful Mind' is well directed with a good script, a solid supporting cast and a great lead actor. But best film? Give me the grandeur of 'The Fellowship of the Ring', the cleverness of 'Memento' or the charm of 'Amelie' any day.

7 1/2 /10