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"Proof:" a very good film that is maddening because it easily could have

4.235.207.79

Posted by tinear on February 17, 2006 at 14:58:32

been much better.
It's Gwyneth Paltrow's film. She elevates it to a very high plane and establishes herself as the best American dramatic actress of her generation, with every indication that she will match the skills of a Kidman soon.
Hopkins disappoints and seems to have phoned in his role: the tortured, demented mathematician figure, perhaps, was exhausted for some time by "A Beautiful Mind" and the dynamic portrayal of Russell Crowe. At any rate, it's a Hopkins we've seen before and the director let him get away with it. He's an excellent actor and one expects more effort in this kind of film than he gives to his latest Hannibal caricature.
This film also reminds a bit of the Sean Connery vehicle wherein he played the "forgotten," driedup Nobel prize winning writer.
At any rate, Paltrow makes the film more than worthwhile: she convincingly projects that hardest of all traits: intelligence. She also shows a troubled character w/out resorting to the clichés of the genre.
The ubiquitous Jake Gyllendahl is okay and provides a nice low-watt foil for Gwyneth.
The always pleasant to behold Hope Davis is fine as the bitchy older sister though, for all the screen time she has, one expects more depth: she is just one-dimensionally bitchy, isn't she?
It is unfortunate the film deteriorates near the two-thirds point SPOILER TO FOLLOW!!!!

when Paltrow affirms she is the author of the proof. That is the key part of the story but the director placed it so far into the film that he had to rush to finish it out, almost resorting to a Hollywood-style happy ending.
In the hands of a better director, this film could have been a serious Oscar contender. As it is, it's a fine film that is maddening because it could have been so much more.
Still, a wonderful performance by Paltrow makes me long to see it again.
In my eyes, a mega-star was born. I never was a "fan" of hers but now I place her above all her American peers and can think of but one, quite older, superior.

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