PIC of the Week – The Professor and The Madman
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Two strong entries this week. I know, the countless Marvel fans are going to chastise me for not placing their latest love at the top of this list, Captain Marvel. But, let’s state the obvious, as enjoyable as it can be, it is not the strongest entry in the Marvel canon.
And, I’m sure I’ll get backlash for the haters of Mel Gibson. But, you cannot deny the talents of the man. Those who wish to boycott him have every right to do that. I, myself, will not take down a picture because of my feelings for an individual. I recognize and celebrate the merits of their work in a film or criticize them or the film if it underwhelms me (i.e. Dragged Across the Concrete).
This is the second time a Mel Gibson film has been released with little fanfare. Add to that another star that is not high on the likability scale, Sean Penn, a much troubled production, and a period piece on the life of words, and in todays world riddled with so many illiterates, you could have a doomed project. In fact, Gibson sued Voltage Pictures after they reneged on him for final cut and the director took his name off the film.
It would not help that many critics lashed out at the film claiming it was boring, lifeless, and uninteresting. I have no idea what film they watched. Whatever issues the production had, and whatever Mel was dissatisfied with, I believe, did not taint the overall fascinating and compelling true story of Professor James Murray, who took on the near impossible task of compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid 19th century while receiving a great deal of help from a man convicted of being criminally insane and residing in an asylum.
The Professor and the Madman appears to be the kind of passion project Mel could get behind. I could see why he would be incensed if the full vision of such a project was hampered in any way. But still, the film grabbed me from its very opening, Sean Penn as Dr. William Chester Miner running through the streets like a madman and chasing down an innocent victim, and shooting him dead before his wife and children. The retired army surgeon is quickly dealt with by the English court and sentenced to Broadmoor Asylum for the criminally insane.
Meanwhile, James Murray (Gibson), a self taught man, no formal education, proves himself to be up for the task of tackling a monumental project that has eluded scholars in England for years. Politics, family, and prejudice are just a few of the hurtles Professor Murray faces. He boldly suggests the help of the common man, reaching out to everyone to help him compile the words for the Oxford Dictionary.
This eventually leads to the salvation of the criminally insane Dr. Miner. As he deals with his guilt for having killed the wrong man, leaving a widow and her six children to struggle, Miner attempts to make amends by giving his pension to the widow. Her refusal only fuels his hatred for himself. But, after an unfortunate accident at the hospital and Miner quickly going into action to save a man’s life, he is given a ray of hope by the head of the institution. They allow him books and the necessary items for him to draw and paint. Eventually, he receives a book with the an advertisement from James Murray reaching out to all to help find the words for the Oxford Dictionary. Miner has discovered his quest, and it helps bring him back to the world of the sane.
The whole production is a work of beauty. The acting is first class with Gibson, Penn, Natalie Dormer (GOT), Steve Coogan (Stan & Ollie), and a strong supporting cast. The music score by Bear McCreary is both uplifting and tearjerking. And, not once was I antsy or bored. This life of words and the effect it has on people is a remarkable tale that is for a more mature audience. It is an emotionally exhausting journey, and I found myself better for it.
Visually sumptuous, the film has not been granted a Blu release. But, the DVD does provide a nice recreation if you set your 4K TV to dynamic presentation rather than standard. For those with an HD TV, you will be more than satisfied with the colors and black levels.
Sound is not reference quality. But, there is a nuance between the score and the dialogue which figures to be most important. Surprisingly, dialogue is crisp. That’s a welcome joy since this film is all about the words.
The aggravating part in all this, there is no Blu-ray to enhance the whole look of this gorgeous film. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find the DVD. Amazon is only offering it for streaming. But, there is Redbox and Walmart. Whatever issues the filmmakers, Voltage Pictures, the distributors, and those that label themselves professional critics have with this film should not dismiss its audience from the incredible experience they may have. It should be noted that RT rating with critics was 40%, but the audience rating is at 73%. For me, that speaks volumes.
Lowest Price – $12.99 – Walmart
