11 Subtle Details That Make Movie Twists Obvious

A Beautiful Mind was met with mixed reviews upon its release, with critics roundly applauding its technical merits and the superb acting showcased throughout, but some dissenting voices questioning the film’s depictions of mental illness.

And yes, a couple of decades later, the film is a little clumsy compared to later works addressing similar territory. But the stellar performances from Russell Crowe as mathematician John Nash and Paul Bettany, Ed Harris, and Vivien Cardone as figments of his imagination make up for the film’s shortcomings and it’s an important milestone in cinematic discussions of both mental instability and social attitudes toward sufferers.

However, as successful as the film is in tricking viewers the first time around, the framing of Nash’s delusions - and his roommate Charles in particular - makes the central conceit a lot more transparent upon another viewing.

Dramatically tossing a desk through a stained-glass window would probably provoke more than a raised eyebrow in the hallowed halls of an Ivy League institution, sure. But the more subtle and persistent clue is the framing of Charles, who is often only seen in empty doorways, conveniently obscured from onlookers.