Since Pi Day was this week, I decided to have the girls watch a math-type movie. I will have to hold off showing them π until they are old enough to figure out what the heck is going on in that movie. So … A Beautiful Mind it is!

Here, we have Mr. Ron Howard at the helm. I’m surprised I haven’t had one of his movies on FSF until now. He is one of my favorite directors. If you don’t know who he is, shame on you. I’d call him a national treasure in movies and television with a career spanning nearly 70 years … from child actor to director/producer/writer! He frequently collaborates with our dear friend Mr. James Horner. (We have covered him here and here.)

A Beautiful Mind is a drama inspired by events in the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr. I always found his story intriguing due to my background and former career in psychology. The film’s narrative is quite different from Nash’s real life, but isn’t that how every “based on a true story” movie goes?

The film’s score was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, but lost both times. I’ve always said that I could spot a Horner score in a matter of seconds. Maybe that’s because he reuses themes in all those movies. However, the music fits in A Beautiful Mind.

The best track (in my opinion) is “A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics.” The track features the voice of Charlotte Church. There are patterns that sound like what a kaleidoscope would sound like if it were translated from something visual to something audible. It’s a beautiful piece that has many working parts.