I'm surprised this film is not better known or has gotten more recognition. It certainly fits right in with Johnny Depp's credo of ever expanding his acting range even if the box office doesn't bring the greatest results.

Depp stars in the title role of The Professor and he plays a middle age academic who has been given the worst news. He has stage four pancreatic cancer and his life span now is indefinite.

Depp was always a cautious and conservative academic. Things seem to be getting away from him on all fronts. His wife Rosemarie DeWitt announces she's been having an affair and his daughter Odessa Young comes out as a lesbian. He's supportive, the wife isn't.

With nothing now to lose he decides to make some changes. Those in his English Literature class who are just looking to fill out their academic requirements for a grade. All he wants now is some serious students to share his knowledge now. And he expands the setting of the classroom now, meeting in bars, etc. He tries smoking cigarettes and some serious drinking and other endeavors his conservative soul forbade him till now.

My favorite is when one of the students gives him some oral sex. The wish dream of every gay man who was crushing out on Johnny Depp since 21 Jump Street.

Depp does a lot of reassessing. You do that when you feel the grim reaper close.

This is a really good film and has to rank in there with one Depp's best on the big screen.

And if he's cash short he can always do another Jack Sparrow film.

College professor Richard Brown (Johnny Depp) is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He decides to live without regret. His wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) reveals that she's having an affair with the college chancellor Henry Wright (Ron Livingston). His daughter Olivia (Odessa Young) comes out of the closet. His best friend Peter (Danny Huston) is devastated. His student Claire (Zoey Deutch) despises her uncle, the chancellor.

Depp's character crystalized for me when he goes to the bar with his students and has random sex with the waitress. One student couldn't believe it. I realized that he's the bad boy college teacher. Now I do wish that the movie centers itself more around him and his class of students. There are a couple of interesting students especially Matreya Scarrwener. This would work more if those students can show how Richard had affected them. It may not be the most original Depp character but I do like him in this. That's my over-riding feeling. I like him and I like this movie.

Richard (Johnny Depp) teaches English literature at a New England University. Scene 1 he discovers he has stage 4 cancer and opts to not undergo treatments and prolong the agony. On the night he was going to break the news to his family, his daughter (Odessa Young) comes out and his wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) proudly announces she is having an affair with the chancellor (Ron Livingston). Richard confides in only his friend Peter (Danny Huston) and decides to drink heavily and have sex with the waitress. He changes his teaching style too. Zoey Deutch plays one of his students in a role that seemed like it would have had more significance.

This has all the earmarks of a cliche indie. The shock value got old before it started depressing the comedy value of the film.

Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity.