Review: Proof

Posted by: Tom Milroy  •  September 16, 2005 @ 11:59am

Filed under: Reviews

Proof is directed by John Madden â€" no, not the football commentator, the guy who directed Gwyneth Paltrow to an Oscar in Shakespeare in Love.

The tagline for Proof is: "The biggest risk in life is not taking one." What the hell does that mean?!? It's like saying "Friday follows Thursday", it tells me nothing. Tat's okay though, because this is a pretty good movie.

Gwyneth plays Catherine, the same character she played on the stage in London. She's the daughter of a mentally-ill mathematics professor. Catherine hasn't had much of a life, what with looking after her old dad and being depressed, concerned that she too will eventually go crazy.

Near the end of his life, dad (Anthony Hopkins) took to writing tons and tons of notes. Most of it was nonsense, but Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal), one of his former students, pays a visit, has relations with Catherine, and then finds a notebook that may be "the next big thing" in mathematics. To tell you any more would spoil it.

This is one of those movies you just know was a play. There's no need for exterior shots â€" it's all talking, sadness, and more talking, but that's all right because there have been so many stupid, inane movies this year, to have actors of this quality do a lot of talking is refreshing and at just over 90 minutes, it doesn't drag.

Hope Davis does a nice job as Claire, Catherine's sister, who comes home for dad's funeral and dispenses endless advice.

There are no car chases, nor is there any nudity, but it still works. Go see it yourself if you want proof.