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 A Beautiful Mind
Directed by Ron Howard
Screenplay by Akiva Goldsman

Also starring: Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Paul Bettany

Winner of Four Golden Globe Awards:
Best Film
Best Screenplay (Akiva Goldsman)
Best Actor (Russell Crowe)
Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly)

USA Today, Jennie Williams column
More articles
Official Site

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 22

PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -

Filming is scheduled to begin Monday, March 26 on Imagine Entertainment's "A Beautiful Mind," a co-production of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer.

The film will be distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Universal, with DreamWorks handling all foreign territories. With a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, "A Beautiful Mind" is a powerful drama inspired by the events in the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr., and in part based on the biography "A Beautiful Mind" by Sylvia Nasar. Oscar(R) nominee Russell Crowe ("Gladiator," "The Insider") stars as Nash, opposite Oscar(R) nominee Ed Harris ("Pollock," "Apollo 13") and Jennifer Connelly ("Requiem for a Dream").

From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experienced it all. A mathematical genius, he made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over this tragedy, and finally -- late in life -- received the Nobel Prize.

The production team includes Director of Photography Roger Deakins (Oscar-nominated for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), Production Designer Wynn Thomas ("Analyze This"), Costume Designer Rita Ryack (Oscar-nominated for "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas"), and Editors Dan Hanley ("Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "EDtv") and Mike Hill ("Grinch," "EDtv"). Filming will take place in Bayonne, NJ, Princeton, NJ, and New York City. Russell Crowe received an Oscar(R) nomination for his portrayal of the heroic Maximus in "Gladiator," and was nominated for an Oscar(R) for his work in "The Insider" last year. His other credits include "L.A. Confidential," "Mystery Alaska," "Virtuosity," "The Quick and the Dead" and "The Sum of Us."

Ed Harris as William ParcherEd Harris received an Oscar(R) nomination for his performance in "Pollock," a film he also directed. He was previously nominated for his performance in Ron Howard's "Apollo 13." Jennifer Connelly gave an acclaimed performance this year in "Requiem for a Dream" and was also featured in "Pollock." "A Beautiful Mind" marks the first collaboration between Brian Grazer and Ron Howard since the highly successful "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas," which was produced by Grazer, directed by Howard and released by Universal. The film, which stars Jim Carrey, has earned more than $260 million domestically, and was the domestic box office champ for the year 2000. The film has received Oscar(R) nominations for Art Direction, Costume Design and Makeup.

With more than 22 Academy Award(R) nominations and 17 Emmy Award nominations for his productions, and as the recipient of numerous distinguishing tributes, Brian Grazer is one of the most creative and prolific producers in the entertainment industry. Mr. Grazer has been responsible for some of the industry's most critically-acclaimed projects, and has been the driving force behind some of Hollywood's most successful box-office blockbusters. Among his films produced, which to date have grossed more than $4 billion worldwide, are: "Splash," "Ransom," "Liar Liar," "Apollo 13," "The Nutty Professor," "Life," "Bowfinger," and "Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps," which has grossed more than $123 million domestically. An accomplished actor, writer, producer and director, Ron Howard joined forces with Brian Grazer in 1986 as founders and chairmen of Imagine Films Entertainment, Inc.

Russell Crowe as John NashAs a director, Mr. Howard has been responsible for some of entertainment's most memorable moments, including: "Ransom," starring Mel Gibson; the 1995 blockbuster "Apollo 13," which was nominated for nine Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture and for which Mr. Howard was named Best Director of the Year by the Directors Guild of America; and the 1996 box office hit "Ransom." His other directorial achievements include "Far and Away"; "Backdraft"; "Splash"; "Parenthood"; "Willow"; "Gung Ho"; "Night Shift"; "Cocoon" and "The Paper." DreamWorks SKG was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network, syndicated and cable television programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; consumer products and interactive entertainment.

Universal Pictures is a unit of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com), a part of CANAL +, the TV and Film division of Vivendi Universal, a new global leader in media and communications.

SOURCE Universal Pictures

Web site: www.universalstudios.com (V)

A 'Beautiful' friendship or post-Oscar tension?

By Jeannie Williams, USA TODAY
News & Views

Whether they win or lose at Sunday's Academy Awards, two of the best-actor nominees will be heading for the same place next week — Princeton, N.J. Russell Crowe (Gladiator) and Ed Harris (Pollock) will begin work on A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard. And Howard's producing partner, Brian Grazer, admits it's a delicate situation. He's not sure what it will be like if a winner and a loser, or two snubbed by Oscar, show up to work. He just knows it's "an amazing coincidence."

Paul Bettany as CharlesCrowe committed to the project after The Insider and before Gladiator was released. "He says so much with so few words. There's a lot going on in his brain and coming out of his eyes, and that's what you need for John Nash," says Grazer. John Forbes Nash Jr., now 72, was a math prodigy who early in his career made important discoveries in the field of game theory that influenced today's economics. He won a Nobel Prize for his work. But he also is a paranoid schizophrenic who lived on the streets, was institutionalized, and had relationships with women and men.

Harris, Oscar-nominated as tortured painter Jackson Pollock, has a supporting role as a powerful U.S. military officer who tried to lure Nash to help crack intelligence codes in the Cold War 1950s. Recent biopics, including The Insider and The Hurricane, have run into problems with charges of inaccuracy from some of those portrayed. Grazer hopes to avoid that because he's working closely with Nash, his ex-wife, Alicia, with whom he lives (to be played by Jennifer Connelly ), and Sylvia Nasar, author of the 1994 biography of the same title.

Russell Crowe as John Nash"The heartbeat of the movie is when he is a 25-year-old (grad student), acutely schizophrenic," says Grazer. Crowe, I note, will be 37 in April, and hasn't looked 25 on screen lately. "He will in this movie, it depends on the way you shoot. They wanted him to look really rough in Gladiator ." Most of the time he'll be playing Nash in his 30s.

Meanwhile, Grazer will be at Vanity Fair's Oscar party Sunday night, and he'll be more on edge than most until that best-actor envelope is opened.
--Thanks to ambilurker for posting on the Crowe's Perch:)

 

Canoe.com: Sunday, January 13, 2002 Critics love Howard for his Mind

Canoe.com: Sunday, December 23, 2001 Crowe has formula for success

Calgary Sun: Mind over all other matters Crowe gives Oscar-worthy show

Calgary Sun: Mind of her own Jennifer Connelly shines in spotlight opposite Crowe

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