Review of Great Expectations (2012) by Michael O — 27 Apr 2014

Definitely not the best adaptation of Great Expectations, but also far from being the worst one, this newest re-make of Charles Dickens' all-time classic would match the moderate expectations of the broad audience. Much more suitable for a TV format than for a theater one, this Mike Newell's delivery remains decently respectful towards the novel and mildly engaging for the viewers.

Those not familiar with the novel or with the previous adaptations (the classic of David Lean and the huge flop of Alfonso Cuaron), the story of Pip, how he becomes a gentleman and his romance with Ms. Estella, would be at compelling and entertaining. Despite the uneven pacing which might cause small misunderstandings of the story-development it succeeds to evoke among unfamiliar viewers a sort of modern fascination towards the XIXth Century British style and world.

For those, who have grown up with Dickens' novels, or have seen the other two movies, the main focus of Mike Newell's movie would be the visualization of Dickens's world and the performances of the actors involved. In terms of visual and cinematography, Great Expectation is surely an excellent and convincing delivery. With the Dickensian style depicted almost flawlessly, this remakes scores much better than the disastrous remake of Alfonso Cuaron (starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow). However, in terms of performances, Mike Newell's adaptation is far from being completely rewarding. The most appealing characters are those of the British A-class stars Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane and Jason Flemyng. Special attention should be paid to Helena Bonham Carter who delivers the most memorable and trustful depiction of Miss Havisham I've imagined (according to my picturing of her when I was reading the novel 15 years ago). Unfortunately, the leading characters Pip and Estella are trailing far behind their supporting cast. Neither Jeremy Irvine nor Holiday Grainger is capable of becoming a memorable embodiment of Pip or Estella. A proof of that is the simple fact that shortly after seeing the movie, your memories of who played the main roles will be empty.

In conclusion, despite its obvious flaws, Mike Newell's adaptation of Great Expectation is a watchable periodic drama which could perfectly be enjoyed on the TV as one of those typical BBC showings of classic British literature adaptations.