The year 2001 witnessed a resurgence in popular fascination with the terrifying madness of the mathematical mind on both screen and stage. The Oscar-winning John Nash biopic A Beautiful Mind and David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play Proof delve into the idea of brilliance on the brink of insanity and its repercussions for broader society. This fascination has hit the big screen again with a very good cinematic adaptation of Auburn’s play, as well an October production of Proof at George Washington University.
Set in the frigid and dreary Chicago suburbs, 27-year-old Catherine (Gwenyth Paltrow) lives with her father Robert (Anthony Hopkins) who was once a god among mathematicians, “revolutionizing the field twice before he was 22.” Robert suffers from an unfortunate case of “graphomania,” a disorder that compels him to scribble compulsively, filling 103 notebooks with disjointed drivel; Catherine has foregone college to care for him.
Played by Jake Gyllenhaal, graduate math student Harold “Hal” Dobbs’ admiration for Robert’s work leads him to devote considerable effort to sifting through every one of these notebooks in the hopes of finding some vestige of the man’s former genius. In the midst of the nonsense, he discovers one notebook that screams of greatness, although its authorship remains unclear. It eventually comes to light that Catherine, too, has an affinity for mathematics. As the story unfolds, Catherine must also contend with the visit of her overbearing sister, Claire, who sees in Catherine an inkling of both their father’s skill and madness.
Paltrow shines in her role as the angst-ridden Catherine, wringing the suffering out of her face, sometimes literally with her shaking hands, whereas Anthony Hopkins’ dignified on-screen presence makes his character’s subtle descent into dementia all the more touching. Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Hal, in his unwavering devotion to the truth and to the well-being of Catherine and Robert, is touching, if not downright charming.
George Washington’s production, directed by Nate Garner, is not quite as engrossing, but it remains more faithful to the spirit of the play. All action takes place in and around the family’s ramshackle back porch, so the burden rests on the actors to make it suit every situation. Catherine (Cara Chute) and Robert (David Lipschutz) are arguably the most compelling characters in the original text, but here their performances lack the gravity necessary to capture the audience. Supporting characters Claire (Maggie Contreras) and Hal (Zack Colonna) approach their roles zealously, but cannot counteract their counterparts’ irreverence.
The delight of Auburn’s play comes from both its witty banter and pseudo-insider quips about a mathematician’s lifestyle. The movie is no different, utilizing the superb delivery of actors like Paltrow, Hopkins and, to a slightly lesser extent, Gyllenhaal. The script is not without its comedy. Hal, for example, is in a nerdy rock band whose set features a song entitled “i” (for the uninitiated, the symbol for an imaginary number) in which the members of the band stand in silence. Other references are made to game theory and Sophie Germain prime numbers, which even the mathematical dilettante can appreciate. As for the philandering, drug abuse and boozing that Hal claims are notorious at mathematics conferences, most members of the audience will just have to trust the experts.
