A Beautiful Mind

As we watch A Beautiful Mind we continuously learn more and more about John Nash. At the start of the movie we see John Nash as a mathematician genius attending an Ivy League school. He is surrounded by other genius types, but his intellect is apparent to be more pronounced. A Beautiful Mind and Pi deal with similar characters - both John and Cohen are gifted mathematicians who also have serve anxiety and schizophrenzic disorders. However, our perception of the characters greatly vary. In A Beautiful Mind, we are eased into John's mental illness - rather than being aware of it from the get-go. It allows us to fall in love with his character, and learn about him as a person. His relationships seem healthy and natural. John always said that "people didn't like", and I thought he was being a bit sarcastic or modest. Little did I know, the majority of his relationships had been make-believe. In Pi, we are aware of Cohen's ill-mental state and obsession for mathematics. We know nothing more about him than this, so it is hard to relate and understand the character.

A scene from A Beautiful Mind that immediately reminded me of Pi, was when John Nash was being chased from the Russians. This chase scene was similar to where Cohen is being chased off the subway. This was my first clue that John's mental state may not be completely balanced. The shot of the scene, and absurdness led me to question the realness of William Parcher.

John and Cohen are similar in ways that they both see the world in a series of mathematical formulas. They are driven to find solutions, have high anxiety, hallucinations, and are detached from reality.

In A Beautiful Mind we see that John grows old, stays off medications, but learns to live a healthy and fulfilling life with hallucinations. John's gift is still profound and he embraces it. Pi ends on a slightly similar note - where Cohen seems cured. However, Pi leaves much more for our imagination. We never really know if Cohen is rid of his anxiety - and if so, at what cost? Unlike John he seemed to push his gift aside. With such talent, it seems a shame to hide.

Pi π

Max Cohen is a man who suffers from a social anxiety disorder. π is filmed in black and white and through the director's eye - allows the viewers to feel the anxiety of the character.

Max is a gifted mathematician who relates nature and his every being around math and numbers. His gift is portrayed much more as a burden than anything else. He is extremely paranoid throughout the film and does not relate well with many people. Max suffers from screeching headaches and hallucinations. Pi depicts a young man who becomes so consumed with his gift, and shows no interest outside of it. This is unhealthy and will not allow a person to have a satisfying life. It reminds me of Bobby Fischer - and how he became utterly consumed with chess. Searching for Bobby Fischer was a much more uplifting, or light, movie - but I am sure they could make a movie about Bobby Fischer that could be protrayed in the same darkness.

This movie and class discussion has allowed me to realize that such gifts can act as a burden. Yes, Max is extremely intelligent and talented - but his mind does not let him use this gift for a greater good. Rather, his gift consumes him. He shuts people out around him, becomes narotic, and is obsessed with finding answers to his mathematical mysteries.

I never really thought that giftedness can act as a burden on someone. I recognized that someone who is gifted in an area may feel a burden because they are being held back, or cannot relate to other people in certain areas - however, this movie and character helped me to realize the more serious burdens that someone who is gifted may feel. I do also feel this paranoid, anxious personality is just as common in a person who does not contain these gifts - and rather this is a rare condition where "genius" meets "insanity". In the end of the film, it shows that Max has let go of his obsession with finding the meaning behind all numbers and patterns in nature - and finally is able to find some inner peace. I wonder if Max will ever really find peace? I'm also curious - had he actually lost his gift? When he was asked the little girl's math problem at the end - was he unable or has he decided to shut that part of his mind out?

Josh Waitzkin & Bobby Fischer

While watching Searching for Bobby Fischer, it was clear that the young boy, Josh Waitzkin, was very talented in chess. His character showed that he had clear gifts above the average child. In fact, his talents for chess were beyond that of many adults. Josh Waitzkin has a natural talent for chess, and with hard work and dedication - he was able to expand upon this gift.

Throughout the movie, Josh is often referred to as a "young Bobby Fischer". Bobby Fischer is famous for being a chess prodigy. He was an American chess Grandmaster and a World Chess Champion. We never do meet Bobby Fischer in the movie, but we find out that he is "hiding" throughout the years, only to play chess matches on occasion.

I liked the way Josh was portrayed in the film. Although he has an obvious gift, that is well above his peers, he is not necessarily looked at as abnormal or weird. I feel that he was able to live a healthy lifestyle, because he expanded his interests beyond chess. Josh was able to tap into other hobbies and interests growing up. He was encouraged to play sports and spend time fishing.

In the middle of the movie, it was obvious that Josh was feeling an overwhelming amount of pressure to win and to be the best. His hobby and interest in chess was no longer just that - and his father became very intense on his son's success. As a cause of this pressure from his father, his coach, his peers, and himself - Josh forfeit his chance of winning at the NYS Elementary Championship. He also showed signs of struggles in the classroom. His teacher mentioned that his social skills were in danger, and feared that chess was becoming too prominent in his life. His father felt that the teacher needed to acknowledge his gift. I can understand both perspectives here; as Josh does need to focus on other things besides chess. I feel that he shouldn't soley focus on chess, because he will lose interest in other activities and other people outside of those he interacts with while competing. Josh also needs to continue to do well in school and learn about other things. His teacher, however, does need to be sympathetic to Josh's needs and tap into his interests in school. She must make sure that she does everything she can to not let him get bored, slip through the cracks, or lose his social skills. I do believe that Josh was perceived as well-rounded in the film, and not as a typical social outcast - as he easily could have been portrayed. He was a kind young boy who cared about other people's feelings. Josh finally found a happy medium between chess and life outside of chess. Josh went on to win championships, practice extremely hard, and ultimately do what he loves.

Josh playing chess in Washington Square Park

A young Josh Waitzkin

Bobby Fischer