Proof (DVD)

With shades of “A Beautiful Mind”, Proof holds interest as the love affair/mathematics proof trundles on its treacherous path.

Gwyneth Paltrow is convincing in her role as the daughter of a brilliant mathematician who suffered from schizophrenia in his later years. After his death, there are questions regarding the authorship of a proof Catherine (Paltrow) presented to Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal), a teacher who was once her father’s pupil, as their romance blossomed. Combine this with a controlling sister ready to script Catherine’s life, and you have an emotionally charged, challenging story.

The brilliant script combined with the convincing acting make this a memorable movie with emotional impact. The only flaw is the lack of mathematical content – we do not know how Robert’s original proof impacted the world, only that it did. And we don’t have a clue as to what the later proof might purport, or why it would be significant. Even if we, the audience, have a limited understanding of mathematics, it would have grounded the story better if a premise and conclusion were included.