A Brilliant Young Mind

Name: A Brilliant Young Mind
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: September 11, 2015
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 65

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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A Brilliant Young Mind

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: September 11, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: Preferring to hide in the safety of his own private world, Nathan (Asa Butterfield) struggles to connect with people, often pushing away those who want to be closest to him, including his mother, Julie (Sally Hawkins). Without the ability to understand love or affection, Nathan finds the comfort and security he needs in numbers andPreferring to hide in the safety of his own private world, Nathan (Asa Butterfield) struggles to connect with people, often pushing away those who want to be closest to him, including his mother, Julie (Sally Hawkins). Without the ability to understand love or affection, Nathan finds the comfort and security he needs in numbers and mathematics. Mentored by his unconventional and anarchic teacher, Mr Humphreys (Rafe Spall), it becomes clear that Nathan’s talents are enough to win him a place on the British team competing at the highly revered International Mathematics Olympiad. Being part of a team and one which has a real chance of winning seems like it could change Nathan’s life forever. But when the team go to train in Taiwan, Nathan is faced with a multitude of unexpected challenges, not least the new and unfamiliar feelings he begins to experience for one of the Chinese competitors, the beautiful Zhang Mei (Jo Yang).… Expand

Director: Morgan Matthews

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Sep 10, 2015

A Brilliant Young Mind doesn't fit into any familiar inspirational box. Many of its characters are complex, contrary individuals who are not even close to being comfortable in their own skins, and this film refuses to shortchange how frustratingly edgy and difficult they are to interact with. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Sep 11, 2015

The film, refreshingly, is less concerned with how Nathan performs in the competition than in how he navigates his way through the bramble of human interactions leading up to it. Read full review

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

Jul 30, 2015

As filmmaking, X+Y is unassuming and not entirely remarkable, but the relationships play so sweetly and memorably. Read full review

The Playlist Nikola Grozdanovic

Jul 30, 2015

Without the performances and splash of style as support, the film would collapse, because the story is indisputably boxed inside a square of standard dimensions. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Sep 10, 2015

The success here is mostly due to nuanced performances and an appreciation for what these kinds of films require. Read full review

Empire Will Lawrence

Jul 30, 2015

Familiar formula yet Morgan Matthews’ feature debut adds up to a satisfying whole. Read full review

Elise Nakhnikian

Sep 7, 2015

The film focuses on Nathan's emotions and backstage dramas in ways that generally feel forced or inauthentic. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is literally, or perhaps I should say visually, a colourful film, with the blue of Nathans eyes often zommed in on and shown in a particularly bright shade. From the start its made clear that Nathan has synesthesia, which is a neurological condition that affects the perception of the senses - often this comes across in the form of associating certain colours with particular letters and numbers. People are thought to see things much more vividly and have a different impression, or outlook, on the world but I suppose its hard to really understand or imagine how things appear to people who literally see things differently (I've read numerous books about neurology over the last year or so, as I find the subject matter quite fascinating).

Back to the plot and this is clearly (primarily) a drama about a child genius, a subject of which there have been numerous other films about. I liked this film for trying to bring across what its like for people like Nathan, people found to be on the autistic spectrum and thus find it hard to relate to other people and to socialise. This is perhaps less of a family based drama, compared to other similar films, as the majority of the film follows Nathan while he's away from friends and relatives, abroad in Asia. The main theme is (unsurprisingly) isolation, alongside communication and self expression.

I found myself feeling quite sorry for Nathan, for how really quite small details would bother him - worry and upset him, such as being given a meal from a restaurant that was ordered from a menu which the dish number associated with it isn't a prime number - a tiny detail which he feels to be of great importance. At various points in the film Nathans clear dislike, if not even mild distress, at having someones hand reached across in presumption that it'd be shaken by his, is made clear. It did momentarily make me wonder what it must be like to see such seemingly mundane, fairly everyday occurences, in such a somehow potentially dangerous way.

I felt that, as in many other films, the musical score is quite subtle and moreso it added to the general 'feel' or tone of the film, adding to the sense of isolation and concern linked with Nathan at different scenes/times. There was something fundamentally sad about how Nathan clearly struggled to be at ease with himself, let alone others, to get on while surrounded by many other mathematically 'gifted' people.

It has quite a bittersweet feel to it, this film. There are a number of ironic things which happen as a result of the plot. Its made clear that its not just Nathan who has issues. I can't not mention the strong element of sentimentality that is present throughout the film - I'm not sure it'd be fair to say this is purely a film aimed at weepy women (that would seem inherintly sexist surely?) but there are a number of scenes involving Nathans mother which show her struggling and could cause tears to flow. There is definitely a strong sense of struggle present, struggle and asserting personal identity and this isn't purely directed at Nathan but at those who who are close to him and play a part in his life. I liked how Asia (or, more precisely, Taiwan) was put across as quite a colourful, bright, vivid place with a pretty open culture (if you know what I mean). The locals that are shown seen very respectful and I (pardon the pun) respect that about Asian culture and by matter of fact I have been at least somewhat interested in Asia - the landscapes, the culture, the people, for many years now.

Content wise, there are one or two scenes of violence, some blood is shown which may trigger people with blood phobias and the like. There is some fairly strong language as well, although its hardly a very graphic film in general. For the record, this film carries a 12 certificate, so its suitable for teenagers and adults. Cast wise, I felt that Asa Butterfield did a brilliant job in bringing the main character of Nathan Ellis to life. He is emotionally very expressive, while still clearly quite cut off socially. The two other cast members that I felt did particularly well in their roles were Rafe Spall as Nathans personal maths tutor, Martin Humphreys - a man with a troubled past of his own and Nathans mother, Julie, who is played magnificently - with determination, sadness and stoicism well portrayed - by Sally Hawkins.… Expand