10 films about geniuses that amaze with the infinity of the human mind

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Stories about fictional and real people. And about the difficulties that are faced not like everyone else.

1. The Man Who Knew Infinity

• UK, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, 2015.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Biographical film about the Indian genius-nugget. Srinivasa Ramanujan has unique mathematical abilities. But due to the strict division of society into castes, he, like a person from a poor family, is forced to do hard physical work. Friends advise the young man to write to university scientists about his research. One of the addressees, a Cambridge professor, invites the young mathematician to England for joint scientific work.

The film very vividly depicts all the hardships that Ramanujan endures: oppression from colleagues, racism, squeamish condescension of prim Britons. The viewer is imbued with sympathy for the main character, but at the same time admires his steadfastness and courage. Separately, it is worth noting the creative duet of Deva Patel, who played the Indian genius, and Jeremy Irons, who played the Cambridge mentor.

2. Games of the mind

• Ireland, France, Iceland, USA, Mexico, Belgium, UK, Hong Kong, 2018.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

James Murray, an eminent linguist, is involved in compiling an explanatory dictionary. He understands that the task is beyond the power of a narrow circle of philologists, and decides to resort to the help of volunteers. The most active of them turned out to be William Minor: he sends Murray a huge number of useful letters. The ingenious linguist wants to meet with his assistant, but does not immediately find out that William is an insane prisoner who once committed a murder.

The plot of the picture is based on the real history of the compilation of the Oxford Dictionary. The film is not very dynamic. But it will easily conquer lovers of "slow" cinema - the regularity of the narration, psychoanalysis of the characters, witty conversations of two geniuses. And Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, who played the main roles, amaze with the depth of their dramatic potential.

3. Aviator

• Germany, USA, 2004.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 163 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Genius, charm, charm, ambition - this is the whole of Howard Hughes. He produces the most expensive motion picture in history and sets high-speed flight records. Despite numerous obstacles, Howard always achieves his goal. However, no one realizes that behind the guise of confidence, a gifted man hides a paranoid with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This biographical drama was directed by the master of big cinema Martin Scorsese. In all its subtleties, he revealed the history of the rise and fall of a genius. Howard Hughes, whose role was brilliantly played by Leonardo DiCaprio, unexpectedly appears before the viewer in completely different roles. And the female images of the film not only help to reveal the character of the main character, but also charm with a truly Hollywood beauty.

4. Gifted

• USA, 2017.
• Drama.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Little Mary lost her parents early and is now being raised by Uncle Frank. Having sent the girl to school, he very soon learns about her brilliant mathematical abilities. Domineering grandmother Mary decides to send her granddaughter to the mathematics academy. For this, she is ready to separate Mary from her guardian. However, Frank is determined to defend his niece's right to a normal childhood in the circle of peers to the last.

The film raises complex topics: the choice of a life path, the cost of realizing a potential, a person's right to happiness. However, the drama of the picture is wrapped in such a warm and sunny shell, and the real friendship between the girl and her uncle is revealed so touchingly that after watching The Gifted One, only positive impressions remain.

5. Sherlock Holmes

• USA, Germany, UK, 2009.
• Action, adventure, thriller, drama, comedy, crime, detective.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Based on the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle, the film nevertheless has an original plot. The ingenious detective Sherlock Holmes investigates the history of terrible murders: warlocks sacrifice people. Sherlock manages to catch the criminal, Lord Blackwood, and the villain is sentenced to the gallows. But a few days after the execution, Blackwood's body suddenly disappears, and rumors of a man from the dead begin to circulate around the city.

"Sherlock Holmes" is filmed in the genre of a detective action movie: it captivates with entertainment and intrigues with an intricate plot. Director Guy Ritchie generously uses his favorite techniques in the film: battles in slow motion, high density of plot pirouettes and unsurpassed humor. And the scenes in which the detective uses the ingenious method of deduction were filmed with great care. Watching them is a separate pleasure.

6. Stephen Hawking's Universe

• UK, Japan, USA, 2014.
• Biography, melodrama, drama.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Stephen is a physics student with incredible potential. He is working on his dissertation and is building a harmonious relationship with the literary critic Jane. But suddenly a terrible thing happens: the young scientist is diagnosed with a disease, due to which he will soon be unable to move, speak and breathe. Contrary to expectations, this does not scare Jane. She is ready to be close to her beloved at any cost.

The film shows the true story of the life of a genius, playing on the feelings of the viewer. The events of the picture are either inspiring or plunging into sadness. The leading actor, Eddie Redmayne, deserves a separate mention. The high level of his skill was noticed not only by critics and the jury of film awards, but also by the audience. And also very beautiful music sounds in the film.

7. Iron Man

• USA, Canada, 2008.
• Science fiction, action, adventure.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Tony Stark, billionaire and ingenious inventor, travels to Afghanistan to advertise a new product. Suddenly he is kidnapped by a gang of terrorists. The scientist is forced to design a weapon of mass destruction. However, instead, Tony creates cyber armor and runs from the criminals. Returning to his homeland, he uses the invention to deal with the riots in his company and punish the villains.

The strong points of the picture are the social component, great humor and a solid plot. Interestingly, among similar films, "Iron Man" is distinguished by a non-standard portrayal of characters typical of a superhero story. So, Tony Stark achieves success not with muscles or superpowers, but with exceptional intelligence.

By the way, the main character of the comic has a real prototype - billionaire, inventor and philanthropist John Hughes. And Elon Musk himself participated in the work on the film - in the role of a consultant. Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man, told Elon Musk got the title of ‘real-life Iron Man’ after his assistance in Marvel films: "This guy will tell us what it's like to be Tony Stark."

8. The imitation game

• UK, USA, 2014.
• Thriller, drama, military, biography.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician, serves Britain in the fight against the Nazis through his intellect. Thanks to his invention - the Christopher device - Alan tries to decipher the messages of the Germans in order to predict their further actions. A team of talented scientists helps him in this.

The plot is based on the sad life story of Alan Turing. Despite the fact that the mathematician made a significant contribution to the history of his state, he was later persecuted for being gay.

The main role in the biographical drama was played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Previously, he has acted as an eccentric genius, for example, in the films "The Fifth Estate", "Van Gogh: A Portrait in Words", as well as the series "Sherlock" and "End of Parade". And in The Game of Imitation, the actor once again showed the viewer how organically he looks in the image of a gifted person.

9. Mind games

• USA, 2001.
• Drama, biography, melodrama.
• Duration: 135 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Biography film about the life of John Nash, scientist, Nobel laureate in economics. While still a student, the brilliant mathematician makes a discovery in the field of game theory. He continues his brilliant career as a teacher, and then as an assistant to the CIA. John is suddenly attacked and followed. Obsessed with a persecution mania, the scientist does not yet know that this is not the worst event in his life.

The plot of the picture keeps the viewer in suspense until the very end, and the denouement of the story both surprises and makes you feel touched. A touching love line takes a special place in the film - a true story about John's relationship with his wife, who did not abandon her attempts to help her husband.

The tape has won many prestigious film awards, including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

10. Good Will Hunting

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Will works as a janitor at the institute, drinks in the evenings and easily breaks the law. No one even suspects that the young man is a child prodigy. The mathematics professor accidentally learns about Will's potential and becomes his mentor. But now the young genius must work on his temper with a psychotherapist.

It is noteworthy that the script for the film was written by Matt Damon, who played the title character, and Ben Affleck, who played a significant minor role. The actors successfully tried themselves in a new role: the film received many awards, but critics praised the original plot of the drama above other things. And for good reason: the characters' characters are multifaceted, and the outcome of the struggle between the psychotherapist and the genius cannot be predicted until the last shot.