: Oliver Twist
Author: Charles Dickens (book)
Director: Roman Polanski
This is an excellent film. There’s nothing flashy, just gritty Industrial London in the 1800s filmed realistically, and a heart-wrenching story about a kind-hearted orphan boy’s trials and struggles. I’ve never been a huge Dickens’ fan (his works are so dreary), but I enjoyed this as a film (I’m sure the book would be difficult to endure). It was hard to watch at times — the world back then was so harsh and cruel — but in the end things work out for the poor boy and it’s a story of triumph over tragedy. My only criticism is that the main character is practically a mute; the actor only has to look cute and pathetic and rarely says or does anything (probably a good thing as I wasn’t impressed with his mediocre acting abilities). In the end it seems that Oliver’s main salvation isn’t his good heart but his pretty face; not exactly the kind of revelation that encourages the human condition. Not having read the novel, I’m not sure if this is the fault of Dickens or Polanski, but either way, it’s not a fatal flaw as the story still works on many other levels. It’s just a good story well told; you don’t even notice the director, and in fact, you forget you’re watching a film, which is the ideal. Highly recommended.
Topic: [/movie] |
