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| Asa Butterfield is "A Brilliant Young Mind" |
It doesn't take an episode of the TV show "The Big Bang Theory" to realize how awkward math nerds can be, though they need love and acceptance too. The heart-warming, calculated British dramedy "A Brilliant Young Mind" explores the mind of a young teen who could easily be Sheldon's more serious, British cousin. The movie focuses on an awkward teenage English math prodigy named Nathan ("Hugo's" Asa Butterfield) who has difficulty understanding people, including his mother (Oscar-nominee Sally Hawkins) and his unconventional math teacher (Rafe Spall of "Anonymous") but finds comfort in numbers. When he is chosen to represent Great Britain at the International Mathematical Olympiad, Nathan embarks on a journey in which he faces unexpected challenges, such as understanding the nature of love. Directed by Morgan Matthews and written by British playwright James Graham, the British-made dramedy, originally released as "X+Y" in Great Britain, is a familiar but poignant tale of a math nerd who must realize it doesn't take numbers to love and be loved. From comedies like "Big Bang" to Oscar-winning tales like "A Beautiful Mind" (which this film will easily become confused with, due to "mind" in the title - go figure), this story has been told many times, but with a talented, memorable cast who makes "Brilliant Mind" work, it a satisfying look at how difficult it can be being so smart. The lithe Buttefield of "Hugo" fame captures Nathan's oddness and social awkwardness perfectly (as does his younger 9-year old version, Edward Baker-Close), Spall steals scenes as his crusty teacher, and in a tender, emotional performance that grounds the film so well, Hawkins is so affecting as the mother who seems normal but just wants to relate to her son. There are too many flashback scenes that want to tell an unnecessary backstory, and you have a sense of what will happen when he goes to Taiwan for the big meet and befriends his female counterpart (the lovely Jo Yang), though you better have tissues handy for some scenes, especially anytime Hawkins is onscreen. "A Brilliant Young Mind" is nothing new, but it still adds up to a worthy experience, and one of the better entries in the awkward smart kid genre.
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