[spoiler] "If not love...then what?" [/spoiler] I welcome anything that Mel Gibson does, especially in this day of comic hero movies! I think the story is very well written. Acting is first rate as well, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn are both fantastic. Too bad that the lawsuit will dim the prospects of this movie most likely few people will see it and then they will be shocked on Oscar night. Typically, these biopics of sorts are dry and slow moving. This is not one of them. It's fast paced, good dialogue. Fair share of drama and English uptightness. Great movie!

A great film that should nominate Sean Penn for an Oscar. A historical story that is quite interesting and well executed. A movie for cinema lovers as there are no special effects or high speed car chases. Just a great story with great actors.

Everything about this movie was done perfectly, from the amazing cast/acting to the masterful storytelling, and above all, just the story by itself is astonishingly satisfying. Although I've watched this movie in late 2021, it is undoubtedly one of the best I've ever seen.

A very compelling movie that had me quite tearful on several occasions. Wonderful acting from the entire cast.

I am not a Sean Penn fan, but, here, as the titular "madman" he deftly walks the tightrope between chewing the scenery, and sensitively portraying the inexplicable conflict and struggle one would have had keeping their demons at bay, if they were suffering from schizophrenia in the 19th century. Mel Gibson, who has thankfully put many of his own personal demons behind him, portrays the professor, who pursues his own "white whale", that is, the seemingly impossible task of compiling every single word known to man at that time. How easy it is to take for granted, in a time where you can simply type a few letters into ones phone and be rewarded with a myriad of words and their definitions, that once we didn't even have ANY way to confirm the meaning or spelling or correct usage of a word. This is the task that James Murray took on, and that William Minor, in his battle to find a semblance of sanity aided him with. Natalie Dormer shines as Eliza, the illiterate wife who now finds herself struggling to survive with her children, after her husband falls victim to Dr. Minor's madness. Yet, somehow she is able to transcend her hate and anger, see the humanity in the madman, and find forgiveness in her heart for his transgression. Yes, the story unfolds slowly and deliberately, but, if you are a lover of words, and great acting, then, this one is worth the watch.