Portrait of a Nobel man (From Western Telegraph)

Portrait of a Nobel man

'A Beautiful Mind' Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harries, Jennifer Connelly, Adam Goldberg, Paul Bettany. Directed by: Ron Howard

Cert: 12, Dur: 2 hrs 15 mins

Topping Tim's video chart this week is a beautiful film called 'A Beautiful Mind'.

This is the true story of John Forbes Nash Jnr, mathematical genius and schizophrenic who was honoured with a Nobel Prize for his brilliance in 1994. His path to international acclaim, as explored in the film, is rockier than most. After an astonishing discovery early in his academic career, he is catapulted into the intellectual elite. However, his brilliance falls victim to his painful descent into schizophrenia. What ensues is one man's struggle against himself and his demons. And, supported by his devoted wife Alicia through troubles that few marriages would withstand, Nash, if not defeats his demons, at least comes to terms wih what they are and learns to live with them and not give into their demands and persuasions. The topics up for discussion are the virtues, or otherwise, of zombifying drug treatments, and the thin line between reality and your mind's images.

Watching the film having read nothing of its subject, it took a while for me to click that was happening to Nash wasn't reality. He's drafted to work for the US Government in the toppest-of-top secret code breaking operations. Now this to me seemed plausible - and real. I think the impact of finding out that this was all in his head was as much of a shock to me as it was to him!

The indomitable Crowe portrays the moody, handsome and eccentric Nash with such ease. He's particularly good in the scenes at Princeton - where, without money or connections he is very much an outsider.

The film enjoyed massive success when it was shown last year, earning the stars and producers a clutch of awards.

If you've already seen it, such a complex film is surely worthy of a a second viewing, and if you're yet to see it, the privacy of your own home is the perfect setting to weep at his Nobel Prize acceptance speech.