BMP Scene Note and Blooper: A Beautiful Mind...

Nobel Prize Scene

Mathematician John Nash is awarded the Noble Prize for his research in governing dynamics. (Stockholm, Sweden)

Note:

• The Nobel Prize ceremony was filmed in Prudential Hall at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ.
• Nobel Prize winners do not make an acceptance speech, but in the movie the John Nash character did. The directors acknowledge this, but state that they wanted one for the dramatic benefit of the film.
• The real John Nash didn't receive the Nobel prize alone, but with colleague Reinhard Selten and Hungarian-born János Harsányi.
  
  

Blooper:
When John Nash gets standing ovations from the Nobel-prize audience, you can clearly see that the name Nobel is misspelled ("Noble") on the platform which he stands behind.

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Film Focus: A Beautiful Mind (2002)

Notable Film Fact(s):

The film is loosely based on the life of John Forbes Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics, who had a life-long struggle with schizophrenia. The narrative of the film differs considerably from the actual events of Nash's life. The film has been criticized for this, but the filmmakers had consistently said that the film was not meant to be a literal representation.

The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards. In addition to winning the Best Picture Award (Brian Grazer and Ron Howard), it also won the following:
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Jennifer Connelly
Best Director - Ron Howard
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Akiva Goldsman

It was nominated but didn't win the following:
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Russell Crowe
Best Editing - Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley
Best Makeup - Greg Cannom and Colleen Callaghan
Best Music, Original Score - James Horner

Film Synopsis
This film is based loosely on the book of the same name by Sylvia Nasar and tells the true story of prominent mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. Russell Crowe stars as the brilliant but arrogant Professor Nash. The professor seems guaranteed a great future in the early '50s after he marries beautiful student Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) and makes a remarkable advancement in the foundations of "game theory". His work carries him to the brink of international acclaim.

Later on, John is visited by Agent Parcher (Ed Harris) from the CIA, who wants to recruit him for code-breaking activities. However, Nash's perceptions of reality are cloudy at best. He struggles to maintain his sanity and Alicia suspects a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Battling decades of illness with the loyal Alicia by his side, Nash is ultimately able to gain some control over his mental state, and eventually goes on to triumphantly win the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Director:
Ron Howard

Producers:
Brian Grazer
Ron Howard

Screenplay:
Akiva Goldsman

Cast:
Russell Crowe
Jennifer Connelly
Ed Harris
Paul Bettany
Christopher Plummer
Josh Lucas

Distributor:
Universal Pictures (Domestic)
DreamWorks Pictures (International)

Release Date(s): December 21, 2001

Running time: 134 min

My View Rating: ***

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