This film is supposed to be a modern day version of the Charles Dicken's classic. After all of the hype though it is very loosely based and is incomparable.
Ethan Hawke stars as Finn (instead of Pip in the book), he lives with his elder sister Maggie and his 'uncle' Joe. As they struggle to make ends meet, Finn has to make-do with living he simple life and drawing pictures of his beautiful tropical surroundings.
At the age of 8, he is introduced to the adult world with a bang as he comes into contact with an escaped convict (Robert De Niro), who forces him to help his escape from prison. With his terrifying ordeal still fresh in his mind, he is summoned to Ms. Nora Dinsmoor's decaying house, who lost her marbles 30 years previous after she was jilted at the alter. Whilst visiting, he meets Ms. Dinsmoor's pompous, stuck-up niece, Estella, whom Finn falls hopelessly in love with...
This film is quite good on its own merits but it is not a good adaptation of the book. It firstly is only loosely based and has changed most things, its even dabbled with the characterisation of the main protagonists which is essentially what the book is about. It suggests that Estella is sexually mature, and Ms. Dinsmoor (though a great character),isn't quite crazy enough. De Niro is fantastic though as always as is Hank Azaria who plays Estella fiance in it. The performances of the actors are very good though.
Mitch Glazer who wrote this screenplay has also tried to mix in some direct quotes from the book and it really hasn't worked.
There is, though, a brilliant soundtrack which is slightly alternative/indie featuring Tori Amos, Pulp, and Ozzy Osbourne.
My advice to any of you want to see this is; if you've read the book and have a memory of it, dont make any comparisons between them as you will be diassapointed. If you haven't seen it; then watch it with no worries as dont get me wrong it is a good film but it just cant be compared to the novel.
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Production Year: 2003 - Drama - Director: Michael Winterbottom - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton, Om Puri, Jeanne Balibar
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
As an illiterate (well a lazy reader at any rate), that hasn't read the book, I would have to say that I really enjoyed the film. The soundtrack made a big impact, and the twists were well portrayed. Maybe it was better because i had no foresight of the story?
I have yet to watch a film adapted from a book that i have read, that didn't dissapoint me. I think it's just one of those things -once you've imagined your own scenes from a book, it's just going to spoil it to see someone elses interpretations of the same story? I wont watch Capt. Cor's for that reason!...
RobinLawrie 17.04.2001 15:19
I agree, it is the same in most instances that the film can never come up to the quality of the book, especially when it is a classic such as this.....Robin
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Apr 17th, 2001
(Apr 24th, 2001)
very helpful by (100%):
