Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

**1/2

Reviewed by: Kotleta

If I have to sit through another adaptation this autumn I will poke my eyes out with a fork. Admittedly, this sense of ennui is all my own fault for having learned to read novels and go outside as a child, instead of getting fat on a diet of chicken nuggets and the intellectual stimulation of magazines and computer games.

This is not a remake of Oliver! the musical. The once controversial Roman Polanski has finally succumbed to the establishment and produced a nice costume drama that he can watch with his children, two of whom have cameo roles. It's all right, if a bit mundane and chocolate-boxy. I probably wouldn't have been so bored if it wasn't all so familiar and routine.

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The children who play Oliver and the Artful Dodger put in decent performances. Fagin is pitiful and slightly creepy. Bill Sykes needs a good wash and a shave and a few lessons on how to look sinister. Nancy has a very nice red dress, which I covet.

I don't care enough about this film to write any more. Which says it all really.

Reviewed on: 06 Oct 2005
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Oliver Twist packshot
Lavish adaptation of Charles Dickens' tale of an orphan who crosses paths with a pickpocket.
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Read more Oliver Twist reviews:

Anton Bitel ***1/2
Themroc ***

Director: Roman Polanski

Writer: Ronald Harwood, based on the novel by Charles Dickens

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark, Jamie Forman, Harry Eden, Edward Hardwicke, Leanne Rowe, Mark Strong

Year: 2005

Runtime: 130 minutes

BBFC: PG - Parental Guidance

Country: UK / Czech Republic / France / Italy

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