Charles Dickens’ considerable literary output has beguiled filmmakers for more than a century. While A Christmas Carol remains the author’s most adapted work, with Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby also frequent film and television fodder, Great Expectations – his coming-of-age tale of an upwardly mobile orphan – also appeals, with 14 screen versions to date. Now comes the 15th adaptation, via director Mike Newell (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and screenwriter David Nicholls (One Day). Their efforts prove faithful and fruitful, adding another fine reworking to the Dickens canon.
Neither the helmer nor scribe has drastically tinkered with the material, allowing the beloved characters and bittersweet emotional journey of discovery to remain. Philip ‘Pip’ Pirrip (debutant Toby Irvine as child, War Horse’s Jeremy Irvine as an adolescent) is raised by his ill-tempered sister (Sally Hawkins, Jane Eyre) and kindly brother-in-law (Jason Flemyng, I Give It a Year) as a blacksmith; however a gentleman’s life with wealthy spinster Miss Havisham (Helena Bonham Carter, Les Misérables) and her beautiful protégé Estella (Holliday Grainger, Anna Karenina) holds more appeal as he ages.
The delivery of tidings of great expectations by London lawyer Mr. Jaggers (Robbie Coltrane, Brave) does little to assuage Pip’s aspirations of grandeur, nor does his accompanying stipend or ill-fitting introduction into society. Yet his dreams of wealth and winning the warm embrace of the increasingly cold and calculating Estella prove riddled with problems, stemming back to a childhood altercation with escaped convict, Magwitch (Ralph Fiennes, Skyfall), and an enduring act of kindness.
Despite our familiarity with the oft-told tale, Great Expectations still musters up many surprises, not the least of which is its effectiveness. In recreating Dickens’ narrative, it would have been easy to confuse exactness with complacence; thankfully neither Newell nor Nicholls fall victim to that folly. Instead, they embrace the adored nature of the source material, complete with its style and storytelling. Visually, the production is embellished with authenticity; narratively, the adaptation adheres to its natural rhythm; structurally, the film excels in weaving its separate elements together.
Fine performances also mark the feature, pre-empted by equally impressive casting. The elder Irvine demonstrates depth otherwise unseen in his filmic output to date, whilst Flemyng makes an aptly affable Joe Gargery. The inclusion of Bonham Carter and Fiennes in such iconic roles may appear obvious; however their excellent work as the story’s staples cannot be ignored. In tandem with the feature itself, they provide a fresh yet respectful interpretation of classic characters, not once stumbling in the execution.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Great Expectations
Director: Mike Newell
UK, 2012, 128 min
In cinemas March 7
Distributor: Universal
Rated M
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