Release Date:
09/23/2005
There is no doubt about it: Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski (The Pianist, Chinatown) has delivered an exquisite version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The real question is, why? This story has been done more times than Pamela Anderson's boobs, so what could possibly be new in this version? Absolutely nothing. Oliver (Barney Clark) is the same damn street urchin who gets lured by the Artful Dodger (Harry Eden) into the world of mastermind Fagins underground jewel thieves. Sure, Polanski says he made this film because he wanted his kids to see a modern version, but with its PG-13 rating and realistic violence, this will probably scare the Dickens out of them. Other than the meticulous recreation of the old world, the biggest highlight is the almost unrecognizable Ben Kingsley as a pitch-perfect Fagin. As for the rest of the film: Please sir, can we have no more?