I was not impressed. the film showed flashes of brilliance, and certainly Tierney shows promise as a director - but the film lacked depth and story. What did this film tell me? There was no growth - and I don't mean the characters; stagnation of life is a concept that can be delivered successfully in film - but the story has to DEVELOP. And there was no development here.
One major hindrance in this regard was the Oliver Twist connection. Using Oliver Twist is fine and dandy, but these characters represented the Dickensian characters in name only. Their personalities were lost. And although there were a few visual allusions to Dickensian London (the street lamps and wrought-iron cots come to mind), the feel of Toronto just doesn't cut it atmospherically.
As well, the story of Oliver Twist was filled with satire, wit, sexual innuendo...it also had mystery and tension. This film lacked every one of those characteristics. All of the potent factors of the novel disappeared - and even the lack of a 'perfect' ending - which was the one aspect that rankled me in the novel - didn't help the film, as this ending lacked resolution, and all but lacked a point.
I also felt the characters did not keep to character. I don't mean to Dickensian character (although they certainly didn't keep to Dickensian character either), but merely to believability as characters. I don't believe that Dodge's brother acted as he did. I don't believe that the Senator reversed himself as he did - and speaking of the Senator - what was with the entire locket/parental connection? It was completely ignored in the film, though it clearly alluded to the scenario in the novel where Oliver is discovered to have a connection to a wealthy family...
I could go on and write a deeper dissertation on this film, but sadly have no patience to do so. Suffice to say that this film is a major disappointment because of its sheer potential and its failure to live up to that potential. 5/10
One major hindrance in this regard was the Oliver Twist connection. Using Oliver Twist is fine and dandy, but these characters represented the Dickensian characters in name only. Their personalities were lost. And although there were a few visual allusions to Dickensian London (the street lamps and wrought-iron cots come to mind), the feel of Toronto just doesn't cut it atmospherically.
As well, the story of Oliver Twist was filled with satire, wit, sexual innuendo...it also had mystery and tension. This film lacked every one of those characteristics. All of the potent factors of the novel disappeared - and even the lack of a 'perfect' ending - which was the one aspect that rankled me in the novel - didn't help the film, as this ending lacked resolution, and all but lacked a point.
I also felt the characters did not keep to character. I don't mean to Dickensian character (although they certainly didn't keep to Dickensian character either), but merely to believability as characters. I don't believe that Dodge's brother acted as he did. I don't believe that the Senator reversed himself as he did - and speaking of the Senator - what was with the entire locket/parental connection? It was completely ignored in the film, though it clearly alluded to the scenario in the novel where Oliver is discovered to have a connection to a wealthy family...
I could go on and write a deeper dissertation on this film, but sadly have no patience to do so. Suffice to say that this film is a major disappointment because of its sheer potential and its failure to live up to that potential. 5/10