Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Unconventional adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations became just another attempt to interpret classics in a new “modern” way. Standing in line with Romeo + Juliet, Cruel Intentions, O, etc., it meets some expectations, but urges to read the original work.

Finn is just a poor boy who lives with his sister Maggie and her boyfriend “Uncle” Joe. Of course, there was no Finn in the original, but let the director Alfonso Cuaron play with your memory a bit. Back then, in 1970s, a boy from Florida had a talent in painting and held his breath entering Ms. Dinsmoor’s Pardiso Perduto, for behind its doors he had met a girl beautiful as an angel. Besides social status, there is a little problem that sets apart Finn and Estella: she’s a snob and he’s just a naive lad.

Love story, old as time, caught audience searching for fairness in Ethan Hawke’s sad eyes and all shades of green overwhelming the color gamma. Sensuality streaming off the screen takes not only Finn’s breath away. The movie is filmed beautifully: beautiful people, beautiful set, superb work of designers and costumers.

Ethan Hawke as Finn is perfect for the role of a guy with calf eyes, however after Reality Bites was there any chance he could show passion? It is something the movie is lacking. Showing ice-cold truth of one-way love and material world, it makes no smooth transition in the finale. Screenplay is certainly not the strongest part of the production.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella delivers performance that accelerates her career. I can’t judge the actress’ character but she really knows how to play a snob, the person who makes it seem like the world is spinning around her.

Anne Bancroft plays Ms. Nora Dinsmoor, a slightly insane old maid, who is the most interesting character in the movie. Robert De Niro makes an appearance as prisoner who had scared the hell out Finn back in Florida, but played a way more important role later in his life.

As for Dickens, well, old fellow had to do with this movie just as much as William Shakespeare with Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Plot is definitely taken from one of the finest works of Literature, however execution leaves contradicting feelings. For those who religiously love classics, it will be a novel bashing; for those who are too lazy to read the book, it will leave almost no impression of the original.

New York City is no substitution for London, but it gives a new twist to a slow-paced storyline in Florida. An unbelievably strong soundtrack, not something to expect from a B-movie, supports energy that comes from the City. Featuring Tori Amos, Lauren Christy, Poe, Pulp, Fisher, Iggy Pop, Chris Cornell, and others, it is probably the best thing about the whole production.

The movie stands out with some fine lines that make me come back to it again and again. Favorite would definitely be: “You know what this is? That’s my heart, and it’s broken”. Simplest words advanced to the status of cliches, seem meaningful as never due to Ethan Hawke and Anne Bancroft’s performances.

And my personal favorite about this flick after soundtrack, of course: paintings. Goodness, just as weird as I can get, I adore Francesco Clemente.

Overall: Charles Dickens is rolling in his grave, while everyone else keeps guessing, “will they or won’t they?”

Viewing Format: a cracked tape with poor Russian translation
Video Occasion: girls got bored, girls wanted some love story, girls got a movie
Action Factor: what action did you expect from your senior Lit class?
Special Effects: Anne Bancroft’s red hair
Suspense: it’s either you’ve read the book or have been around for more than 10 years, you know every single step they take for sure!

Recommended: Yes