The Professor and the Madman
Oscar winners Mel Gibson and Sean Penn lead this true story about how a professor and a convicted murderer created the Oxford English Dictionary. Co-stars Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones).
The compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857 and was one of the most ambitious, and revolutionary projects ever undertaken. Professor James Murray (Gibson) took on the challenge of creating the most comprehensive dictionary ever compiled, but knew that it would take him and his team over a century to compile all known definitions. However, by “crowd sourcing” the work, that is, by enlisting definitions from people all over the world, the dictionary could be compiled in mere decades.
As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W.C. Minor (Penn), had submitted more than ten thousand words. When the committee insisted on honouring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was a convicted murderer and being held at an asylum for the criminally insane.
The film saw delays due to legal battles that saw Gibson and Icon Productions contend with Voltage Pictures. The latter denied director Farhad Safinia final cut privileges and additional days of shooting.
Reviews & comments
Not too Mad.
The problem with Farhad Safinia's nineteenth century drama about the events surrounding the creation of the English Oxford Dictionary, is not just the fact that the Director had considerable difficulty bringing a version of his vision to the silver screen (the final cut was delayed for almost a year due to differing opinions from the Production Companies)...
Not to be missed
One of the best movies I have seen in recent times. Oscar winning acting, great story that would have otherwise not be known by a whole lot of people, the music really elevated and complimented the theme. Didn’t expect coming away being completely blown away by this movie. A must watch and not to be missed.
Stuff
pressExpecting not much, I walked out of The Professor and the Madman happy enough to have seen it.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIronically, for a movie about words, the dialogue only sparks to life on rare occasion.
FilmInk
press… the film’s musings on language, definition and redefinition, and its dual character study at its core, it makes for decent viewing.
Roger Ebert
pressWe'll never know where Shemran's movie truly lost its way, but its current form of saving face by sounding smart will make viewers want to simply move on from it, just like its star and director and have.
Stuff
pressExpecting not much, I walked out of The Professor and the Madman happy enough to have seen it.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIronically, for a movie about words, the dialogue only sparks to life on rare occasion.
FilmInk
press… the film’s musings on language, definition and redefinition, and its dual character study at its core, it makes for decent viewing.
Roger Ebert
pressWe'll never know where Shemran's movie truly lost its way, but its current form of saving face by sounding smart will make viewers want to simply move on from it, just like its star and director and have.
Not too Mad.
The problem with Farhad Safinia's nineteenth century drama about the events surrounding the creation of the English Oxford Dictionary, is not just the fact that the Director had considerable difficulty bringing a version of his vision to the silver screen (the final cut was delayed for almost a year due to differing opinions from the Production Companies)...
Not to be missed
One of the best movies I have seen in recent times. Oscar winning acting, great story that would have otherwise not be known by a whole lot of people, the music really elevated and complimented the theme. Didn’t expect coming away being completely blown away by this movie. A must watch and not to be missed.
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