You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me whether I should sell 'em...
#20 - A Beautiful Mind
Why did I buy it?
I was - and ultimately still am - attempting to watch all the Best Picture winners and I found this cheap enough to purchase it. I vividly remember buying it at the Aberystwyth Woolworths and, as I walked home, I was dubious about whether it would be any good... would I find it long and boring ...
I was - and ultimately still am - attempting to watch all the Best Picture winners and I found this cheap enough to purchase it. I vividly remember buying it at the Aberystwyth Woolworths and, as I walked home, I was dubious about whether it would be any good... would I find it long and boring ...
Why do I still own it?
In the first instance I do like it and, back when I first bought it, I watched it many times because I enjoyed it so much. I even watched it with young Jo and this brought about an epic debate: the focus of the film felt a little unclear - the romance between Nash and his wife should have been the centre-point of the film ... but it actually didn't feel important in A Beautiful Mind, hence the almost-unneccessary feel of the romance story - we were all rooting for Nash (Crowe) to simply get over his (without giving anything away) problems.
The epic debate was how I used Titanic as an example of a film that, although about the disaster and showing great sub-stories about class in 1912, the film was rooted in the romance between Jack and Rose, hence why it was so good - Titanic is, before anything else, a Romance. Jo disagreed - Titanic is a disaster movie according to him.
This incredible argument raged on all night and A Beautiful Mind is what started it all. This may be part of the reason I still own it because, capturing the frame from the film above made me give it a slight re-analysis and, having watched many Oscar contenders and Best Picture winners since this film, it does seem quite by-the-numbers so...
Should I sell it?
In the first instance I do like it and, back when I first bought it, I watched it many times because I enjoyed it so much. I even watched it with young Jo and this brought about an epic debate: the focus of the film felt a little unclear - the romance between Nash and his wife should have been the centre-point of the film ... but it actually didn't feel important in A Beautiful Mind, hence the almost-unneccessary feel of the romance story - we were all rooting for Nash (Crowe) to simply get over his (without giving anything away) problems.
The epic debate was how I used Titanic as an example of a film that, although about the disaster and showing great sub-stories about class in 1912, the film was rooted in the romance between Jack and Rose, hence why it was so good - Titanic is, before anything else, a Romance. Jo disagreed - Titanic is a disaster movie according to him.
This incredible argument raged on all night and A Beautiful Mind is what started it all. This may be part of the reason I still own it because, capturing the frame from the film above made me give it a slight re-analysis and, having watched many Oscar contenders and Best Picture winners since this film, it does seem quite by-the-numbers so...
Should I sell it?
Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com
I really like this movie, but I was a senior when they filmed it on campus, so personal ties to seeing my dorm (during the tea near the beginning) outweighs the negatives from the film. I say keep it, it's terrific acting all around.
ReplyDeleteA great performance from Crowe but I don't think it really quite deserved the Best Picture win it got so long ago. Good review!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - but the question is, what did it squeeze ahead of? what Best Picture nominees was it up against? Because if i recall, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE robbed some other films.
ReplyDeletenice connection there! i think its funny how those little connections really do affect your judgement - like ANGELAS ASHES - i have a funny feeling its not really good enough to own but those family connections in ireland force me to keep a copy.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, the film that sparked the Greatest Simon & Jo Argument of All Time.
ReplyDeleteI say Keep It, brings back memories of the most tense tooth brushing scene in history.
For Sure. An Epic Evening.
ReplyDeleteShit got real when religion was brought up...
Saw it once. It was good and all, but I don't think I ever need to see it again. If it were me, I'd sell it, but seeing as you have fond memories and whatnot, KEEP it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the memories are intense... but I don't think it really stands the test of time. I thought it was great on first viewing and now I think its Oscar-by-the-numbers: True Story, Lead-Role-with-Mental-Problem, set in Uni... oh my... THE SOCIAL NETWORK seems like it might win Oscars with this talk!
ReplyDelete