A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Math scribbled across dorm windows like a perfume ad: that’s A Beautiful Mind in one image, and the whole movie has that glossy, built-to-win-awards shine. That’s the issue. It’s based on a real man, and it sands his life down into something tidy, with the music swelling right on cue every time you’re supposed to cry. Russell Crowe is legit great, all hunched shoulders and restless hands, playing a genius who can’t get through a conversation at a bar. Jennifer Connelly does the heavy lifting, giving Alicia a backbone the script barely hands her. Paul Bettany as the roommate is pure fun. The middle stretch pulls a big swing that works the first time and feels like a magic trick you can see coming the second. Over a million IMDb ratings average an 8.2, so plenty of people buy every bit of it. A 6.8 because it’s moving, but you can see the strings the whole time. $3,274 says you write an equation on a window this week and spend longer cleaning it off than solving it.

What works: Russell Crowe’s physical performance, Jennifer Connelly’s grounded Alicia, and a middle stretch that pulls off a real surprise the first time.

What doesn’t: It smooths a real and complicated life into a tidy awards-season story, and the score tells you exactly when to cry.

Who it’s for: People who love an inspirational true story and don’t mind a little gloss on the truth.