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Oliver Twist
2005 130 min Czech Republic, France, Italy, United Kingdom PG-13 12+
★6.9
Crime, Drama, Family
Director: Roman Polanski
🎭 Based on
«Oliver Twist»
byCharles Dickens
Trailers
Description
When 9-year-old orphan Oliver Twist dares to ask his cruel taskmaster, Mr. Bumble, for a second serving of gruel, he's hired out as an apprentice. Escaping that dismal fate, young Oliver falls in with the street urchin known as the Artful Dodger and his criminal mentor, Fagin. When kindly Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver in, Fagin's evil henchman Bill Sikes plots to kidnap the boy.
Budget:
$50M
US Gross:
$2.08M
Worldwide:
$42.58M
Starring
Barney Clark
Actor
Ben Kingsley
Actor
Jeremy Swift
Actor
Awards
European Film Awards 2006
— Audience Award – Best Film
Key opinion
Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Oliver Twist is widely praised for its immersive, authentic production design and high-caliber performances, particularly by Ben Kingsley. While many appreciate its faithful and atmospheric approach to Dickens, others argue the film suffers from significant narrative cuts and a lack of emotional intensity.
| Production | The production design and cinematography successfully capture a gritty, visceral, and authentic vision of 19th-century London. | |
| Acting | Ben Kingsley delivers a standout, nuanced performance as Fagin that serves as the film's dramatic anchor. | |
| Pacing | The film’s pacing is viewed inconsistently; while some appreciate the efficient storytelling, others feel the compressed runtime leads to a rushed narrative and a lack of emotional climax. | |
| Adaptation | Critics are divided on the screenplay's fidelity; proponents admire the removal of sentimental subplots, while detractors feel the exclusion of key characters and storylines renders it an incomplete adaptation. | |
| Emotion | The film's emotional resonance is polarizing; some find it a touching experience, while others describe the viewing as detached and lacking in necessary narrative tension. |