The Professor and the Madman

A few years ago I started to wonder if Hollywood creativity is dry? Now, with this epic movie; not in its events, but in its richness on both the human and artistic sides. A representative performance at the highest level. Four characters centered around; the character of Professor James Murray, played by Mel Gibson and his wife Ada Murray, played by Jennifer Ehle and Dr. William Chester Minor, played by Sean Penn and the wife of the murdered Eliza Merrett, played by Natalie Dormer. These personalities were at the top of their artistic representation, not to mention the characterization of the character and the depth of the human dimension of each. I humbly think that this film will enter Oscar 2020 nominations as the best film and another nomination for the best actor performance to Shin Bin.

I could write much on the accolades this film deserves but will stick to the basics of why this film is great.

Acting across the board is spectacular. Penn and Gibson are in top form and have great chemistry. Coogan and Marsan are also in top form as usual. Ehle and Dormer do a terrific job in bringing that soft feminine touch much needed to balance out the relationships between the main characters.

The film has its emotional ups and downs while staying on point to tell the amazing story of how the most important English dictionary came to be. It is a testament to the difficulty and perseverance needed to accomplish such a Herculean task in defining the vast English language and the trials and tribulations endured to realize its completion.

The beauty of this film is in the storytelling of the relationship between the two main characters. The Scottich wordsmith and an American surgeon who suffers from mental illness.

In order to not divulge more about the narrative I will just end by stating this is a powerful film that will leave you feeling many emotions. A triumphant accomplishment! Time well spent.

My wife and I watched this at home on DVD from our public library. All the actors are very good in their roles, and especially Sean Penn as the "madman." My only gripe is his mumbling which required us to turn on the subtitles to be sure we knew what he was saying.

This movie is very historically accurate, as the movie opens in 1872 London we see Sean Penn as American Civil War veteran Dr. William Chester Minor, chasing down and shooting a man he thought was out to get him. At his trial he was declared innocent by reason of insanity then spent the next 38 years in an English mental institution.

At that same time Mel Gibson as James Murray had been put in charge of assembling the comprehensive Oxford Dictionary of the English language, a monumental task that eventually took several decades to complete, carrying on after Murray died. It turned out Minor had experience and skills that helped greatly and eventually the two became friends even though Minor remained institutionalized. He eventually returned to the USA and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

This is an important chapter in human history, the writing of the comprehensive dictionary, and it was nice to learn what all went into it with some good points about human nature and the ability to forgive.

I haven't seen a movie this good for around 10 years. Truly unbelievable performances from Penn and Gibson. I was balling my eyes out from half way though. Thank god there are still film makers out there who understand the art form.

It's apparent that unless there are s'plosions and CGI, the imbecilic critics (and most marvel fans) will hate it. This is a timeless film; well acted, a slice of history often forgotten. It should be seen by anyone with sense.