Monday, September 19, 2011

Day 111: Never Have I Ever... Had a Beautiful Mind, But I Sure Can Appreciate It

I first saw the movie A Beautiful Mind in college, and remember not enjoying it very much. I had thought it was too long and now think I probably didn't fully understand it, as I certainly didn't appreciate its brilliance the first time I saw it.

I begrudgingly watched the movie this past weekend, but by the end was absolutely blown away. Never have I ever done a complete 180 with my opinion on a movie. Until now.

First of all, knowing the ending of the movie definitely helped me appreciate the interactions between John Nash and his college roommate, his roomie's niece, and Big Brother in the beginning and middle of the movie.

But, more importantly, I think it's because of what's happened to me in my life since I saw the movie the first time that caused it to strike me in the fashion that it did, especially when Nash said, "everybody's haunted by their past."

The fact that Nash can overcome the mental illness in his brain just by using it absolutely blasts mine. I can't wrap my feeble brain around the fact that he can choose to be on a "diet of the mind" and not indulge in certain appetites. I don't have a mental illness that I'm aware of, and I can't shut off my mind at will. I am supposed to have complete control of my mind, but know first hand how hard it is. He truly has a beautiful mind.

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