Oliver Twist (2005)

 Oliver Twist Lite
Polanski's version of Dickens' classic is visually stirring (its use of computerized backgrounds sets a new standard) and has real heart and soul, particularly in the form of Ben Kingsley's sympathetic Fagin, and Leanne Rowe's endearingly charming Nancy, but this tale strayed too far from the novel to be either the definitive or even one of the top adaptations of this 150-year-old best seller. Well worth seeing, for sure, but not a replacement for the experience of reading the source material. And, hey, didn't the canine actor who played Bill Sykes' dog, Bullseye, look like he could be the many-times-great-grandfather of Petey from The Little Rascals?

(BTW, this is my second, and censored, attempt at submitting this review. Apparently Amazon doesn't like comments on this filmmaker's past...) March 16, 2008

 Trim "Twist" ala Polish Polanski , an absolute eye catcher
I love my Dickens trimmed down by Oscar winning screenplay writer Ronald Harwood (The Dresser,The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Pianist),imbued with the genuine empathy of Oscar winning director Roman Polanski (The Pianist,Rosemary's Babyand Chinatown (Special Collector's Edition)) and add the parsley on the plate of the music of Oscar winner Rachel Portman (Emma: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture,The Cider House Rules: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture,Chocolat: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture (2001 Film)) and outstanding cinematography which lends to the authenticity of the story, and this makes for me the best screen adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic.The DVD special features are a film makers dream as you get to hear these greats discuss their very unique vision for this retelling of "Oliver Twist."In hindsight, I would watch these fascinating special features first in order to understand their vision.It is dark and foreboding. Purists of the book may or may not care for it as Harwood,whose classic book on the teaching of screenplay writing Another Time,cuts and trims Dickens' story,but really captures the essence better than I have ever seen it done! (IMO) .As a film, it zinged for me and was as palatable as Beef Wellington with a robust Shiraz! March 1, 2008

 Oliver Twist
I am enjoyed on watched on the DVD'Oliver Twist'.

I like Oliver Twist becasue great story and classic story.

I like a DVD because I have lots of DVDS and this is brllaint story.

I like a DVD because I am relax and fun watch to on the DVD. January 22, 2008

 Polanski's Twist
I have always been a fan Of Roman Polanski movies. I have seen all the Oliver Twist movies, and this one stands out as my favorite. It has a new upbeat feeling, with an unexpected ending. Fagin in this one isnt a vicious, calculating, abusive character, rather a help mate to the young boys fallen into his care. At the end of the movie you feel sorry for him rather than disdane. Timothy Burril an unknown actor is a wounderful talent here as Oliver, such convincing acting from such a youg actor is reminesint of Christian Bale in Empire of the sun, and the young actor from I Am David, infact these to movies have the same mood and acting from their young actors. Polanski was involved in some legal dealing and was banned from the USA. Thank Goodness his movies were not because this one is a must see, especially of your a Polanski fan. I saw it 3 times and ralized the detail Polanski puts into this work. Youll like this one. November 23, 2007

 Watchable but not outstanding
Thrown out of the orphan's workhouse for asking for more food to supplement the meagre diet of gruel on which the inmates are fed the 9 year old Oliver(Barney Clark) is apprenticed to an ubdertaker Mr Sowerberry,but runs away after the resentful regular apprentice gets him unjustly beaten .Winding up in London he is befriended by the Artful Dodger(Harry Eden)and taken in by Fagin(Ben Kingsley)who teaches him the art of picking pockets .Put to work in the streets a misunderstanding sees hin taken under the wing of the kindly and avuncular Mr Brownlow(Edward Hardwicke).Afraid he will turn the gang in to the police Fagin sets the murderous Bill Sykes(James Forreman)to bring him back and dispose of him .warned by Sykes girlfriend the soft hearted Nancy (Learne Rowe) Oliver escaped pursued by Sykes.
If ypou discount the musical Oliver as a special case and a mid 1970's animation of no great merit this is the first cinema version(there have been numerous TV adaptations)of Dicken's novel since the 1948 version by David Lean .This version is quite simply outclassed by its predecessor.Polanski has gotten the look of the movie absolutely right and the picture starts well with the scene where Oliver draws the short straw to ask for more gruel .This is suspenseful and nicely understated but things start to sag badly in the whole middle section of the picture.

the dialogue sounds more like Shakespeare than Dickens and the movie plods along to its dull conclusion .The acting only real;ly works well in the supporting roles .Ian MacNeice is superb as Mr Limbkins and the cameo from Alun Armstrong as magistrate Fang catches Dickensian satirical caricature to a "tee.Hardwicke manages the tricky task of making virtue seem interesting but ,alas these stalwarts of the UK acting world are let down by two unengaging performances from Clark and Eden as Oliver and the Dodger.Foreman is fine as Sykes
What really sinks the movie however is a quite flat and dull performance from Kingsley as Fagin.It is hammy -ugly rags ,matted wig and rotten teeth do not constitute a perfotrmance merely the props to a performance .Alec Guinness fell foul of political correctness for the perceived anti-Semitism of his fagin but it could serve as an object lesson in playing grotesque characters that Kingslwey would do well to heed
In short -it looks good ,has some sound performances but is short on real quality .To misquote its most famous line "No more please" November 23, 2007

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