FILM-FORWARD.COMReviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
Directed by: Roman Polanski. Produced by: Robert Benmussa, Roman Polanski & Alain Sarde. Written by: Ronald Harwood, based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Director of Photography: Pawel Edelman. Edited by: Hervé de Luze. Music by: Rachel Portman. Released by: TriStar. Language: English. Country of Origin: UK/Czech Republic/France/Italy. 130 min. Rated: PG-13. With: Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark, Jamie Foreman, Harry Eden & Leanne Rowe. DVD Features: "Twist by Polanski" and ""The Best of Twist," two behind-the-scenes documentaries. "Kidding with Oliver Twist." English & French subtitles.
The grandeur of great literature lies in its lung capacity - that is, its ability to
hold breath over time and resurface as a vital work. Over 26 movie
adaptations have been attributed to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, and Roman
Polanski's version is the latest reaffirmation of how young Oliver continues
to conquer and prevail over both time and circumstance. Polanski, with his
brilliant re-imagination of 19th century London, deftly transports the
viewer and rejuvenates time-worn but still vibrantly colorful characters, such
as the infamous Fagin. Ben Kingsley fits this villainous role perfectly - not a
simple task - enthusing in the viewer just the perfect blend of emotions: two parts sympathy to
one part disgust. Barney
Clark, too, is the ideal Oliver, with his handsomely androgynous
facial features and emaciated physique. In his bright blue eyes alone, Clark
effortlessly embodies the idyllic Twist traits, carrying out a sweet and
naďve portrayal of the unfortunate orphan.
After Polanski's Academy-Award winning The Pianist (another story of a
survival), Polanski's task is a daunting one: first, to confront towering
levels of audience expectations, and second, to take on a
much treasured classic, one that (to make matters more difficult)
belongs to a class of literature in which character is subservient to action, rather than the other
way around. Especially in a novel like Oliver Twist, where
character psychology for the most part is repressed,
it is even more difficult to stir an audience's emotions. Polanski does not,
and can not, really, re-imagine Oliver Twist in a dramatically new fashion,
without changing the very essence of the Oliver Twist that he is
re-creating. Staying, for the most part, true to Dickens' highly literary
text (though cutting out meandering storylines and subplots - we miss the
whole period of Oliver's birth and childhood that is captured in David
Lean's renowned version, for example), Polanski seems not to be attempting a
reinvention, but rather, urging the classic into 2005. If nothing else,
Polanski is making the past accessible to the present - an impressive feat
in itself. Through Polanski's film, today's viewers are introduced
to the abused, alcoholic street children of newly industrialized 1830s
London, where prostitution and thievery prevail, and murder is no rare
occurrence. Although perhaps not the ideal children's film, Oliver Twist
goes beyond its literary and artistic value to bestow upon viewers a
socially conscious view of our past, and in doing so, reminding us of the
not-so-perfect conditions of the present. Polanski accomplishes this
in an alluring and captivating manner through the cinematography (the
lighting used to illuminate the characters' larger than lifeness is simply
enchanting) and clever casting, bringing to life again this cherished and
beloved classic. Parisa Vaziri
DVD Extras: The dry but in-depth “Twist by Polanski” explains the casting procedures, the
decision to streamline the plot, and Roman Polanski’s inspiration to make the film, his children. Drawing from his emotions of being an orphan during
World War II, Polanski made this film believing the story is still pertinent and relatable in today’s society. Interestingly, actor Lewis Chase confides
the director wanted a lot of energy and fire from his cast, which isn’t quite evident in the film’s final action-packed, yet subdued act. “The Best of Twist”
takes a more hands-on approach, explaining the resources used to recreate Victorian London. There is also a short segment of little value, the video diary of the film’s star, Barney Clark. Michael Wong
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