Because of some pesky behind-the-scenes production squabbles, co-producer/costar Mel Gibson, who had nurtured this film as a personal passion project for years, has chosen to completely distance himself from the released cut of The Professor and the Madman. Cowriter/director Farhad Safinia (in his directorial debut) also took his name off of the film and is instead credited as P.B. Sherman. Whatever movie Gibson and Safinia had in mind must have been truly spectacular because, even as it stands now, The Professor and the Madman is a highly watchable film.
Gibson stars as James Murray, the editor primarily responsible for compiling the first Oxford dictionary in the 19th century. Dr. William Minor (Sean Penn) is a brilliant psychiatric patient suffering from hallucinations who begins contributing to Murray’s cause from the confines of an asylum. A friendship develops between them, and the film evolves into a relevant examination of mental illness, redemption, and the power of the written word. Not to mention, its subject matter alone makes for a pretty fascinating history lesson.
Penn and Gibson give what you’d expect with their performances. The dream pairing of the two acting giants is every bit as spectacular as it should be. Whatever remains of his work and original intentions, it is obvious that Safinia has a great deal of potential as a filmmaker, as the film exhibits a balance of craftsmanship and sincere passion that is hard to accomplish.
The film, however, doesn’t quite soar as it should in its final moments, and it ends with a slightly rushed and forced thud rather than a powerful culmination of its interwoven themes. Though such clumsiness causes the film to fall short of greatness, there’s no denying the overall quality, heart, and compassion with which The Professor and the Madman was executed–however compromised its original intentions may be.
GRADE: B+
