The Professor And The Madman

2019. • 124 minute

O ovom filmu

Professor James Murray begins work compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid 19th century, and receives over 10,000 entries from a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Dr. William Minor.

Ocjene i recenzije

There is not an actor in any of this historical biopic's sublime frames whose performance wavers from the high quality in all key areas of directing, cinematography, and score. Indeed, quality is the very word to describe this film, which is concerned with the maddening quality of words in the English language and the bold undertaking of Scotsman James Murray (Mel Gibson), a self-educated man of brilliance whose ambition was to -- in a space of seven short years -- catalogue every known word along with its etymology. Murray's undertaking is Herculean and forces within the Oxford University Press executive, which is sponsoring the endeavour, are keen for him to fail. The film, an adaptation of the 1998 book by Todd Komarnicki, is the true story of the founding of the dictionary, it focuses on the lives of Murray and an inmate of Broadmoor Hospital, Dr William Chester Minor (Sean Penn), a traumatized former Civil War surgeon. Dr Minor is held in the asylum after being found not guilty of the murder of a man due to reasons of insanity. Fortune introduces the tortured Dr Minor to Murray, at a precarious time in his work, where the enormity of his task has finally overwhelmed the spry optimist. Minor's contributions become crucial to Murray's labour, but when he befriends the man, the tragedy of his being becomes his own. This is a devastating story of wrenching poignancy, of which the viewer cannot judge the characters, but bear witness; otherwise, we are intimately drawn into the characters' world. One of the men has been too far, and seen too much, while the other has reached too high. Both Gibson and Penn's performances are par excellence. It is a wonder, given the film's near perfection, that certain critics have rated it so poorly. Gibson himself has disavowed the film, but when you consider the examples of other films which started so only to become later recognised for their greatness I would suggest the audience doesn't put too much stock in the minutiae surrounding the project, or the opinions of egoistic hacks. This is one of those great films that come along all too infrequently and is an almighty feather in the hats of Mel Gibson and Sean Penn who, once more, are simply outstanding. Quality is one word I've used to describe it, another is extraordinary.

I don't get all the critic's negative reviews or why Mel Gibson disowned the film after it was released. I think it was due to a legal rift and creative differences. Very interesting and well told story based on a true story. Worth a viewing. If you like intelligent and thoughtful think pieces this film is for you. If you are a fan of the bombastic Marvel action and adventure films you will not like this type of film at all.

Read a book of this story some years ago and was fascinated. I enjoyed the film and this is the only time I have liked either of these actors. Mel Gibson, particularly. Sensitive and thoughtful story.