Great Expectations

Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke as an adult, Jeremy James Kissner at age 10) is the new version of Dickens's Pip. He's a child wise beyond his years, befriending an escaped convict (Robert De Niro) in the warm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. Finn is also the plaything for Estella (Paltrow as an adult, Raquel Beaudene at age 10), the niece of the coast's richest and most eccentric lady, Ms. Dinsmoor (a fun and flamboyant Anne Bancroft). The prudish Estella likes Finn (catch the best first kiss scene in many a moon) but has been brought up to disdain men; she'll break hearts. As the object of Finn's desires, Estella unfortunately is a one-dimensional character, yet what a dimension! Clad in Donna Karan dresses and her long, sun-kissed hair, Paltrow is luminous. She and Hawke make a very sexy couple.

Mitch Glazer's script does better by Finn. He's a blue-collar worker with a gift for drawing (artwork by Francesco Clemente). Following his Uncle Joe's (Chris Cooper) honest ways, Finn grows up as a fisherman, thoughts of Estella and art drifting away in the hard work. When a mysterious benefactor allows him to follow his dream, Finn finds himself in New York, preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit--and in the arms of the engaged Estella.

Filled with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's golden-drenched light, the film has an irresistible, wildly romantic look. Dinsmoor's place is certainly gothic, Estella and Finn's longing encounters glamorous. Cuarón uses an MTV-friendly soundtrack with a confident touch. Songs by Tori Amos and the band Pulp--along with Patrick Doyle's silky score--create passionate scenes. It all ends far too swiftly with a seemingly tacked-on ending (reflecting the book, as it happens) but the film is splendid storytelling. It's a stylish, sweet valentine. --Doug Thomas

This film is a cinematic masterpiece due to its colorful scenes that seem to be painted onto the screen in a perfectly precise style. "Great Expectations" is rich with imagery and a wonderful story line based on Charles Dickens' classic tale. It strays from the novel enough to make the story a more visual experience. The time period is changed to present day, but this adaptation works for the best. It allows a modern audience to identify with this classic tale in a way that would be impossible if the film were set in the 19th century. Finnegan Bell falls hopelessly in love with Estella from the first moment he lays eyes on her and proceeds throughout his life in continual pursuit of her love by attempting to become "worthy" of her. He is an orphan raised by his abusive sister and her fisherman husband, Joe. Estella is the niece of the richest lady in the state, Ms. Nora Diggers Dinsmoor. Ms. Dinsmoor requests Finn's presence at her mansion, Paradiso Perduto, on a weekly basis as a playmate for Estella and to entertain herself. Ms. Dinsmoor was left at the altar by her fiancée in prior years and has become a bitter old lady who scorns all men and believes none can be worthy of a woman's love. She schools Estella in this manner, which explains Estella's cold behavior and her rejection of Finn as anything more than a toy for her to play with his emotions. The story is told through Finn's eyes and from his perspective on what occurs as he grows up and learns about life. He has the ability to paint fabulously, a gift he has had since birth, and he uses this gift to express himself and his emotions throughout his life. It becomes a road to success and to Estella, but he loses sight of his joy and love for the art. Success becomes a trap for him when he realizes that there is more to life than himself and his own feelings. He truly grows up and even though he always loves Estella, learns what he wants out of life and how to accomplish it. "Great Expectations" is wonderfully cast, with Ethan Hawke doing an extraordinary job as the lovelorn Finn. He is believable and invokes much sympathy from the audience. Gwyneth Paltrow is superb as Estella, who conjures some hostility because of her rejection of Finn, but at the same time is capable of evoking sympathy. The way she acts is not her fault because she does not know any better. Robert De Niro puts in an excellent performance as the escaped convict who scares Finn as a young boy and has a major influence on his life. Anne Bancroft is wonderful as the eccentric Ms. Dinsmoor who acts out her hostility towards men through Estella. This film is one of the most picturesque and beautifully cinematic films I have ever seen. From the first scene until the last, each shot is carefully stylized to make the most of the scenery and the story. The theme of Finn's paintings is begun in the opening credits, with his paintings as the background and the credits appearing on the screen as if in rippling water. Each shot is precisely stylized to evoke certain emotions from the audience and to tell the story as Finn remembers it. The film looks as though many different paintings were put together to create a coherent story. The film is very peaceful, as seen through Finn's paintings and the slow, romantic musical background, but at times is jarred to reality by the people coming into Finn's life who influence him. The film can appear as if in a dream state while Finn is thinking about certain occurrences in his life, but then an event happens that shows him just how large and threatening the world is capable of being. This gives him to a new understanding of the world and his place within it. This tragic tale is given an optimistic Hollywood ending, but in my opinion, this is appropriate. It leaves some hope, even though small, of Finn reaching his ultimate goal in life of finding himself and being free of the past, "like love, completely undeserved".


How does this movie make you feel?   February 21, 2006
Dean K. Staub
14 out of 16 found this review helpful

I do not want to talk about how true this movie is to the Dickens novel, but simply ask you to see this movie and observe how it makes you feel. I am a romantic, but to catch that special feeling that has you reaching for the stars requires superior pacing and acting in a movie. Ethan Hawke is magnificent in this movie to make that happen. It is his character that is the vehicle which drives this movie to some very special moments that are both intense and romantic, without at all being sappy. The performance of the other actors is first rate, and I would ask you to simply give this movie a chance on its own terms. This movie draws you in, just as Ethan Hawke's character draws in the world (he is an artist) and makes this movie a real piece of art not to be missed. It is also a great bargain for as little as a penny for the vhs version. So buy a wonderful piece of romance that is almost free for the taking. You can't go wrong!


One word...BEAUTIFUL   February 17, 2000
Jeffrey Timko
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Who cares about Charles Dickens and David Lean, this version of "Great Expectations" stands alone. Director Alfonso Cuaron (along with his cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and production designer Bo Welch from "A Little Princess") have created another cinematic work of stunning visual beauty. It is no coincidence that Lubezki and Welch helped to create the distinctive look of some of director Tim Burton's films. "Great Expectations" simply glows on the screen and is a must own on DVD. Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, and a wonderful music score join the trio of aforementioned men to create a film that is absolutely mystical in its impact. I can't wait for Cuaron's next film.


Worth missing a date   January 31, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Ended up arriving 1 hour late to a dinner date after this movie popped up on HBO. Stunning visually. Beatiful music. A story that I couldn't tear away from.


A Great Adaptation   July 24, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

What most people do not understand is that it is litterally impossible to make a movie that is exactly like a great novel. In many movies made from original novels, there are many important aspects missing from the novel. However, in this particular movie, they exactly knew that the movie couldn't be exactly like the book, so they concectrated on the most interesting part of the book- that is the character. If you carefully read the book and watched the movie, then you will know that the impressions of the characters you get from the book and the movie are very similiar. Ethan Hawke and Gweneth Paltrow do an amazing job creating the images of their characters, and it works really well.