Customer Reviews

Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The poor reviews this movie has received (in both the DVD and VHS formats) I feel are totally unwarranted. This is my favorite put-to-film Dickens novel (except for the various "A Christmas Carol's" out there), and I am ecstatic that this version is finally available on DVD.
Now, in this adaption, I believe the prequel works very well. I think it makes this a much more comprehensive movie and gives the characters involved (especially Monks) much more depth. And, because of the length of this version that I am reviewing, it allows the viewer to get to know each character much deeper than the other filmed versions available. We get to know Oliver's parents and Aunt Rose up close, although it is done through liberties taken by the producer and not necessarily Dickens himself. I do feel, however, the great novelist would not particularly mind in this case.
The acting is as good, if not better, than pretty much most period epics I have seen. The actors play off of each other well - they match their roles perfectly. The costumes and sets are excellent. They have captured the early Victorian period so well - both the good and the bad - it's almost as if the viewer is peering through a looking glass into the past.
As for the story following Dickens' original novel...well, I have yet to see any movie follow a novel to a "T." It just doesn't happen, unfortunately, with virtually any put-to-film novel. But this follows the original, as a whole, much much closer than the other versions I have seen - definitely more than "Oliver," and infinitely more than the Disney version with Richard Dreyfuss, which was made into a totally different story than what Dickens had intended.
Don't let the nearly 6 hour length scare you off - there is no time during this whole version where one is bored (unless they are a child - definitely not a children's movie!). Being a fan of epic period movies, I found this to be as enticing as any other epic novels put to the screen.
Bravo to all involved!

If you love Masterpiece Theatre, Charles Dickens, terrific writing and superb acting...then your life is not complete without this DVD.

I first saw this adaptation of my favourite Dickens novel when I was about 13 when it was first released. Since then I've watched it over 30 times and memorized almost every single eloquently written line. I fell in love with the plot and the characters, however villanous or cheeky they may be. Just to name a few - Andy Serkis as Bill Sikes is the perfect frightening bad guy. Robert Lindsay must be the greatest Fagin ever portrayed on the film; he is a rich, infamous, and slightly comical delight - a wonderful perfomance. Marc Warren as the pathetic half-brother to Oliver, Monks aka Edward Leeford, acts his heart out, and one cannot help but love the character that we are supposed to hate. Sam Smith who plays Oliver is marvelously innocent in his debut role. That's just a few of the roles that stick out, but there are others who must be mentioned. Julie Walters and David Ross are hilarious characters; Emily Wolf is a wonderful and beautiful Nancy; the now very recognizable Keira Knightley is a charming Rose Fleming; and Lindsay Duncan portrays the dispicable mother to Edward Leeford with perfection.

If you are looking for a word-for-word adaptation of Dicken's Oliver Twist, this is not it. This takes many liberties with the story, and goes far beyond it, spending 1/3 of the story on life before Oliver. It devolops every character, travels through every bit of Olivers life, and tells stories about his family, with a short but sweet epilogue. It is incredibly believable and will impact you in some way I can garuntee. It is one of those stories and films that will influence you, whether it is to be a writer or an actor. I highly, highly recommend it.

Having no life, I make a point of trying to see every "Masterpiece Theatre" or BBC-type historical drama that I can.

And I would have to say, this is probably the best I've ever seen. It's just so shattering, so beautiful, so emotionally exhausting to watch. It's one of those movies that are so good that you forget you're really watching a bunch of actors, with lights, cameras, clapboards, etc. You find yourself totally immersed.

One thing you should know is that, whether you get this movie on DVD or on VHS, there are three parts, each about 2 hours.

Surprisingly, though, only the second and third parts are, strictly speaking, adapted from Dickens's novel. The first part is the prequel: in the novel, the exact circumstances of Twist's provenance are left murky. The first part of this series, made only for this "Masterpiece Theatre" production, is a two-hour spelling out of where he came from. They've definitely taken some license there.

But incredibly, the first part -- the one not based directly on Dickens's writings -- is for me the most gripping and well-written of the three! I can't believe how good it is. Fits right in and then some.

One other note: I'm probably not giving away anything by announcing that in the end, everything is set right and just desserts are apportioned to all. Yet so crushing and infuriating is the Hell through which the waif Oliver must pass, that one is left to wonder if, even though the bad guys do get what's coming to them, the horrors we have seen are really made up for.

To tell you the truth, notwithstanding my regard for this production, I find myself unable to sit through it a second time. The actors playing Monks, Bill, and Fagin do such a convincing, harrowing job of being evil to Oliver, that I simply can't take it, even though I know everything will be all right in the end. It's just too much for me.

I also find this true of the book. It's probably the only work of Dickens that leaves me with the feeling, when I put it back on the shelf, that the moral universe is still fundamentally out of whack.

This is the one of the best Oliver Twist adaptions I've seen. Shame Masterpiece Theater had to ruin it.
People should be aware (I wasn't) that this version is 36 minutes shorter than the one shown on the BBC in the UK and the CBC in Canada. I don't know why American versions of British shows always have great chunks chopped out but it's very annoying as it disrupts the storyline.

I've seen several different versions of the classic Charles Dickens story of the orphan boy but I just finished watching this six hour mini series adaptation that in my opinion was the best yet.

Absolutely the best adaption of the Charles Dickens novel I've ever seen. The acting is devilish good; especially Marc Warren (as Edward Leeford) and Andy Serkis (Bill Sikes) makes it worth watching over and over again. The whole cast seem to have put a lot of work into it, and not make this story "just another classic costume horn of plenty". A good story, a great writer but unique and wonderful acting.

I thought this was a brilliant adaptation of Dicken's classic. I was riveted from beginning to end, partly because Alan Bleasdale (Boys from the Blackstuff et al) did such a magnificent job of imaginatively expanding the story without taking anything away from the original. Excellent performances by all, even the minor roles - I particularly liked Robert Lindsey as Fagin; Lindsay Duncan was beautifully evil; Marc Warren was wonderfully grotesque but sad at the same time; and Sophia Myles was heartbreaking as Oliver's mother. All the actors gave 100%. Had it been a movie instead of a TV series, surely it would have won an Oscar. What an astonishing creation - nobody will ever be able to surpass this production.

I decided to buy this on DVD and compare it to the recent version of Oliver Twist that just played on Masterpiece Theater with Timothy Spall. Wow! I thought that one was good, but this one is the best I've seen.

I must start with the performance of Marc Warren as Edward Leeford. He took a character I couldn't have cared less about in other versions and painted a heartbreaking portrait of a disturbed human being.

I actually love Robert Lindsay's take on Fagin. From his look to his voice, he's a perfect physical interpretation of the character. Sure, the incorporation of magic into Fagin's background isn't exactly faithful to the book, but I like how it adds a bit of flavor and flamboyance to the him. While other versions have started making Fagin more sympathetic, this mini-series chose to stay reasonably faithful to the more flawed aspects of Fagin. Great job by both the filmakers and Lindsay. (Timothy Spall in the newest version is an interesting choice and very quirky. But I feel like I'm watching the true Fagin with Lindsay)

I was looking forward to Andy Serkis' Bill Sikes and he was appropriately scary. He's certainly physically brutal and not one you'd want to cross. I thought Serkis might add more layers to the character, but apparently not. In truth, it's difficult to turn a character so evil into anything more than a monster.

Julie Walters and David Ross do a fine job as Mrs. Mann and Mr. Bumble. I have to admit, however, I grew less interested everytime their characters appeared onscreen. Not the actors' fault. I just kept asking myself, "Why do we keep going back to these two?" Of course, they do become fairly important later on.

Sam Smith is pretty much the sort of kid I see when I think of Oliver Twist in terms of his angelic look. But I also liked his performance overall and the way he responded to others by making comments sometimes under his breath. Keira Knightly's Rose (who looks shockingly older than her actual age in this) is almost as heartwarming as Emily Woof's Nancy is heartbreaking. Also Michael Kitchen is a joy as Mr. Brownlow, as is Annette Crosbie as Mrs Bedwin. I don't want to forget Sophia Myles who really brings Oliver's mother to life.

This brings me to episode one of the mini-series, which is essentially the prequel to the more familiar story. It really ties together questions I probably had when watching other versions of the story. When I heard part one was entirely before the famous workhouse chapter, I was concerned. But Myles, Kitchen and Warren really make it work.

I was touched almost to tears when Oliver relays his story to Rose and Mr. Brownlow while lying in bed. Also when Oliver feels sympathy for Edward.

While the mini-series apparently takes a few liberties with Dicken's original story, it's very faithful compared to most versions and beautifully done.

I really liked this movie. The story is great and the acting is great too. It's very mysterious and dramatic also very spooky. The characters are very real. You must feel very bad for Agnes and Oliver. And the evil people are worse than terrible. Leeford kind of drives you crazy because he hurts Agnes and they don't get married in time all because he is so foolish. You also feel bad for Edward Leeford even though he tries to kill Agnes. This is one of the best movies of 1999. Be sure to get this so your kids will watch it over and over again.

i'v seen oliver twist before,bur never so good and,whit great actors like this.fans off dickens must really see this one.and of corse Michael Kithen
in a brilliant rool,but he is a very good actor and my favorit