10/5/2005
Proof stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, Anthony Hopkins as Robert, Jake Gyllenhaal as Hal, Danny McCarthy as Cop, Hope Davis as Claire, Tobiasz Daszkjewicz as Limo Driver, Gary Houston as Professor Barrow, Anne Wittman as Friend at Party, Leigh Zimmerman as Friend at Party, Colin Stinton as Theoretical Physicist, Leland Burnett as Band Vocalist, John Keefe as University Friend, Chipo Chung as University Friend, C. Gerod Harris as University Friend, Roshan Seth as Professor Bhandari, and Lolly Susi as Airport Check-In Lady
Proof is a film about a professor's dutiful daughter, Catherine, who is trying to cope with the death of her famous father. A university student, Hal, wants to go through the professor's notebooks, to see if any of them may contain math works. The professor, who appears as flashbacks, and daydreams, was a brilliant mathematician who for the last five years wrote only incoherent ramblings due to a mental illness. Catherine devoted her energies to attending to her father's needs, while abandoning her studies and a chance for any career. While Hal is searching for the lost proof, Catherine gets involved with him. Catherine's sister shows up to take Catherine to New york with her and sell the house. Catherine then gives Hal a key she wears around her neck. The key is to the top drawer of her father's desk where a notebook with a proof concerning primes is locked away. Catherine explains to Hal and her sister that the proof is her's and not her father's. Of course, no one believes her and accuses her of inheriting her father's insanity.
Proof is a film that jumps from reality to daydream to flashback. It is very disjointed. It is a film that lacks direction, is it a math film, a mental illness film, a sibling rivalry film, a coming out of your parents shadow film, or a love story. Proof fails in all these directions. While there are 2 powerful actors in this film, the casting and dialog for her sister's character, Claire, doesn't work.
I give it 2 out of 5 notebooks:
