A Beautiful Mind DVD Review:

The Movie

A Beautiful Mind stars Russell Crowe in an astonishing performance as brilliant mathematician John Nash; on the brink of international acclaim Nash becomes entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. Now, only his devoted wife (Jennifer Connelly) can help him in this powerful story of courage, passion and triumph. Facing challenges that have destroyed many others, Nash fought back; he triumphed over decades of hardship and tragedy, and received the Nobel Prize in 1994.

A Beautiful Mind is a brilliant film. The characters are realistically gaunt and the film offers a distinct strength of writing and notable acting performances. A Beautiful Mind isn't about mathematics; it's about human brittleness and the ability to prevail over it. This film truly defies the common Hollywood tact of desire and romance. While the analysis of Nash's mind and disease are absolutely engaging, it is the devotion between Nash and Alicia that serves as the film's impulsive substance.

The Video

A Beautiful Mind appears in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. Picture looked remarkable. Sharpness seemed spotless. There were inconsiderable signs of edge enhancement; jagged edges were eye-catching, but not a major concern; I found no signs of obscurity.

The film was crisp and precise. There were visible spots of grain at times, but again, not enough to exhibit concerns. Colors were vivid; black levels always came across deep and solid; shadow detail was distinct.

Overall, A Beautiful Mind displayed an often effective representation.

The Audio

The film is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 - The film offered a moderate forward emphasis; music displayed a reliable stereo presence, while effects created a decent cut. Dialogue came across normal and discrete. Some good ambiance appears through music and general background effects. Split surround convention is limited at times but nonetheless it adds occasional substance to the track. Effects were plain and precise, and they appeared unclouded and strong. In any event, A Beautiful Mind provided a solid Dolby Digital undergoing.

The Extras

Extras:

• Commentary by director Ron Howard
• Commentary by screenwriter Akiva Goldsman
• Disc 1
• Feature film
• Deleted scenes - with optional director's commentary
• Disc 2
• A Beautiful Partnership: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer
• Development of the Screenplay
• Meeting John Nash - The Nash Theory of Equilibrium
• "Accepting the Nobel Prize in Economics"
• "The Process of Age Progression"
• Storyboards to final feature comparison
• Creation of special effects
• Scoring the film
• Inside A Beautiful Mind
• Academy Awards Reactions: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay
• A Beautiful Mind soundtrack

Overall

Should you rent it or buy it? A Beautiful Mind provides a perpetually engrossing piece that also shines due to a stellar presentation by Russell Crowe. The DVD offers a very positive picture and sound plus worthy extras. If you really like the film, then you won’t be disappointed by the DVD presentation. Even if you don’t normally care for this type of sensible film, A Beautiful Mind warrants a look nevertheless. Highly recommended.

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