English, baby!

Proof

Date: Oct 10 2005

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

They say that truly brilliant people are always teetering on the edge of insanity. So many bright minds have lost their grip on reality. The movie A Brilliant Mind with Russell Crow addressed this phenomenon through the story of mathematical genius John Nash. Now, a new movie examines the fragile mind of the genius. Listen as Sarah and John talk about Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins’ new movie Proof.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Sarah

John

Sarah: So, have you seen, ah, Proof, that new movie with Gwyneth Paltrow?

John: No, I haven’t even heard of it.

Sarah: Really?

John: When did it come out?

Sarah: It came out, probably, two weeks ago.

John: Oh yeah?

Sarah: Yeah, it’s really good.

John: Is it?

Sarah: Yeah. Gwyneth Paltrow plays the daughter. And the actor who was in Silence of the Lambs, what’s his name?

John: Anthony Obs..Anthony Hopkins.

Sarah: Yeah. And, basically, they’re both mathematicians and the dad is absolute brilliant. He’s just really bright. But he kind of goes off his rocker, he gets kind of crazy…

John: Yeah.

Sarah: ..and they never really tell you but he has some kind of mental illness.

John: Does he eventually come to terms with that?

Sarah: No, he passes away.

John: Oh.

Sarah: Eventually, Gwyneth Paltrow kind of comes to terms with it, but it takes a while. And Gwyneth Paltrow spent a lot of time furrowing her brow, which makes me very nervous because all I can think about is wrinkles and I just want to, like, even it out for her.

John: Oh no.

Sarah: Yeah, it was kind of just like one expression.

John: She’ll need some Botox or something if she keeps doing that.

Sarah: Totally.

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Proof has received mixed reviews. The Boston Herald said the movie was formulaic and predictable. Salon.Com said the movie seemed phony. Yet, the Dallas Morning News thought the movie was intelligent and entertaining. And most critics agree that both Paltrow and Hopkins give exceptional performances. You’ll just have to see the movie to decide who’s right.