The Professor and the Madman 2019
TV-14 - 124 min
Mel Gibson didn't have to wear a kilt for this one, but he brought back the accent that was only a shade away from the Scottish used in Braveheart.
His character here, the Professor James Murray, was credited with establishing the beginnings and methodology behind the Oxford English Dictionary, which ended up in 12 volumes, 415 thousand words, and 1.8 million illustrative quotations. And he did it of course with the help of a small army of English-speaking people, and others of some fairly intellectual, yet flawed origin, and amid controversy over the same. He did not see the end of the dictionary as it was finished long after he had passed away, but it seems that finishing it was no longer then a part of his personal goal.
This story is not just another historical recall, but an intimate look at faith, hope, and love, and the lasting qualities that abide in us in the current life, and that words never completely capture. This is a beautifully written piece that is fleshed out in a spectacular and believable way. What else should we expect with Mel Gibson and Sean Penn in the major roles, and surrounded with the likes of Natalie Dormer, Eddie Marsan, and Steve Coogan, faces familiar from so many other successful roles, and very nicely cast here. I don't believe that the role that Jennifer Ehle played as the professor's wife was given enough space, or possibly not directed as well as she could have been, but she did pull off the "stoic" part without a flinch. But of course a large part of her supporting character in this was in fact supposed to be confluenced. The casting and acting made this really work.
Without spoiling it, I'll just say that though the story takes quite a few unexpected turns, and provides high drama, and leads us down a path to a very satisfactory conclusion, it shakes the balance of the tension of hero/villain and turns that attention where the real villains lie in that English time period, and without some overwrought sense of agenda or any forced affectations. Here I am using words that will likely be challenged by the Oxford dictionary if I'm not careful. Affectations....I should look that up to find out it's origin!
So in any case, put this one on your list if you like great personal drama, history, a big dose of romance floating around in it, family ties and challenges, and humanity in general. Great film.
- Agitatus
Mel Gibson didn't have to wear a kilt for this one, but he brought back the accent that was only a shade away from the Scottish used in Braveheart.
His character here, the Professor James Murray, was credited with establishing the beginnings and methodology behind the Oxford English Dictionary, which ended up in 12 volumes, 415 thousand words, and 1.8 million illustrative quotations. And he did it of course with the help of a small army of English-speaking people, and others of some fairly intellectual, yet flawed origin, and amid controversy over the same. He did not see the end of the dictionary as it was finished long after he had passed away, but it seems that finishing it was no longer then a part of his personal goal.
This story is not just another historical recall, but an intimate look at faith, hope, and love, and the lasting qualities that abide in us in the current life, and that words never completely capture. This is a beautifully written piece that is fleshed out in a spectacular and believable way. What else should we expect with Mel Gibson and Sean Penn in the major roles, and surrounded with the likes of Natalie Dormer, Eddie Marsan, and Steve Coogan, faces familiar from so many other successful roles, and very nicely cast here. I don't believe that the role that Jennifer Ehle played as the professor's wife was given enough space, or possibly not directed as well as she could have been, but she did pull off the "stoic" part without a flinch. But of course a large part of her supporting character in this was in fact supposed to be confluenced. The casting and acting made this really work.
Without spoiling it, I'll just say that though the story takes quite a few unexpected turns, and provides high drama, and leads us down a path to a very satisfactory conclusion, it shakes the balance of the tension of hero/villain and turns that attention where the real villains lie in that English time period, and without some overwrought sense of agenda or any forced affectations. Here I am using words that will likely be challenged by the Oxford dictionary if I'm not careful. Affectations....I should look that up to find out it's origin!
So in any case, put this one on your list if you like great personal drama, history, a big dose of romance floating around in it, family ties and challenges, and humanity in general. Great film.
- Agitatus
