The Movie Proof Essays

The Movie Proof Essays The Movie Proof Essay The Movie Proof Essay Proof Proof is a film by John Madden. This movie is based on a play written by David Aubum which was a Pulitzer Prize winning play. This was originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club on May 23, 2000. It was made into a movie in 2005. Proof was acted out as in today’s times, not a replica that would have taken place decades ago. The main cast members were Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, Anthony Hopkins as Catherine’s father and Jake Gyllenhaal as Hal. This film is about a professor that was a mathematician. Anthony Hopkins played this specific role. The beginning started out as if he had been sick and shortly into the movie he passed away. Flashbacks that were not distinctly identified by some sort of change in scenery or computer editing, told the story of his profession and the brilliant mind of his character. Catherine dedicated the past 5 years to taking care of him throughout his illness until his passing. Catherine got to where she did not care as much about her appearance and schooling because of her devotion of love and care to her father. Hal was a student of her fathers who was a graduate also in mathematics. Hal knew of Catherine’s father’s proofs of math problems he came up with that proved to be correct, and wanted to find, out of his 130 notebooks, if his last one was correct. If it was, Hal wanted to have it published and made public. His personality was portrayed as a down to earth type of person who had a lot of care for Catherine. Catherine’s sister Clair (Hope Davis) comes into town for the funeral. She had a bold, persistent personality. She would not give up on anything until it was going to go the way she wanted. As the story goes ~ Catherine and her father lived together in Chicago. She took care of her ill father for many years until his death. Everyone that knew of him knew he was a genius in math, even coming up with formulas that no other could do. During his battle and staying at home, he would still practice problems and try to come up with something else. Catherine started buying him blank notebooks that ended with 130 by the time of his passing. When Clair arrives in town for their father’s funeral she visually realizes the mental status of her sister and how she had a large amount of grief that she carried around with her. Hal became a friend to Catherine as he would come over to finish homework. He knew of the notebooks and having an idea of what they contained but had to convince Catherine into letting him look at them. Very upset and stressed about her father’s death, she finally gives into Hal. Meanwhile, Clair planned the funeral with only how she though it should go. Having her persistent personality, she was insisting that Catherine come live with her and her husband in New York. Hal went around to different professors trying to see if the proof in the notebook he had worked out correctly and to get Catherine to publish it. Catherine admits that it was actually her notebook and work, but being in the mental state she was in, Hal nor her sister believed her. They had no knowledge of how brilliant her mind is, just as that as her father’s. Emotions come out when she is not believed. Her handwriting was nearly the same as her fathers. To make matters worse, Clair informed Catherine that she sold the house without her knowing and pushes for her to move to New York. Very opposed at first, she gives in and the house is packed and as they are leaving for the airport, Hal shows up to admit that it possibly is her writing, being very apologetic. She does not accept his words and leaves with Clair to head to the airport. Upon waiting to board their plane, she realizes he was serious about his words and believing her, runs out of the airport and back to Hal. The ending leaves you in suspense as to if the notebook containing the proof was 100% correct and if it was, did it get published. I was left with a kind of mixed impression of the film. Although it was a great movie, it was also one that I would watch one time unlike the ones we all can watch over and over ex: Wizard of Oz. There were several times I didn’t realize it went back into the past. There was no change of scenery, costumes not lighting to give you that hint. The costumes were that of normal, everyday, up to date clothing. This production went along throughout the whole thing with the characters keeping their personalities the same as from at the first and kept up with the dialogue point very well. Many aspects were visible to show the movies performance. All of the actors represented their own separate conflicts that didn’t affect the others. Catherine was stuck in grief and sadness until the end. She had the role as one facing depression. Clair was a person of confidence and pride. She presented an image of making one think she could do anything and everyone would let things go her way. Hal was a man of honor and appreciation. He knew how intelligent her father was and showed in a nonvisible was that he was honored to have been one of his students. Proof seemed to me as an example of a classical drama. A death was presented at the beginning only didn’t show the battle he fought. Catherine had a lot of mixed emotions that made her personality such as sadness, denial and guilt. Problems and emotions tent to get worse until the end when someone realizes the possibility of truth. This was made more for a movie and had no clues that it had once been a play. In summary, Proof was worth watching leaving me to think about what the point may be. I interpret it as relaying to an audience that our minds will only hold knowledge based on where we set our expectations. Setting high expectations means we know we will not always get it right on the first try but won’t stop until we reach our own level of satisfaction.