De grandes espérances

I wonder what went wrong here – the premise is decent, as is the cast, and you’re the director of one of the Harry Potter films, so you know how to give a movie some adventure/fantasy feel. But despite all of this, nothing in this film worked. When I first discovered this film, I was really looking forward to it and I wondered why I’d never heard of it before, but everything became clear after the first half an hour. The boy makes you want to punch him, Helena Bonham Carter is the same as always, and everything is weirdly gloomy, as though the film didn’t wish for the audience to like it. You must either possess the patience of a saint or you’ll just give up on it. (23/07/2019)

To film an acclaimed classic is understandably a challenge, and the British spared no effort in their endeavor. However, the only thing that sticks in my memory and provides a clear reason not to dismiss Great Expectations is the character of the convict portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. This acting chameleon feels right at home in similar roles and can imbue his character with darkness and tragedy. Actually, I also need to mention Helena Bonham Carter for a change in the opposite position. My favorite performer of extravagant and eccentric female characters hasn't changed her repertoire in the slightest, without realizing that her bitter character is not Marla Singer, let alone the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Her affectedness here was an obtrusive hindrance and brutally brought down my impression of the film. I don't know to what extent Charles Dickens' text influenced the final result, as it belongs to a different era. However, this drama is easily forgettable for me. Overall impression: 45%. (19/02/2018)

"Great Expectations" is one of the classic novels that I love to see adapted again and again. This version is also very pleasant. The one I think of most often is the one with Michael York. Here it seems as if Newell is not satisfied with the drama prescribed by Dickens and has to add something more. But having learned from the past, he might know that this is really more than enough. It was already enough of an experiment to cast Helena Bonham Carter as Havisham, who rarely gives in to her surroundings and always plays her own game. On the other hand, Gillian Anderson had the same problem in the series version, and she thought she was playing an ice queen. But she was just heartbroken... No exaggeration. (28/05/2018)

I can't help it, but I just didn't enjoy this one. Sure, on the one hand, it's because I'm not particularly fond of Dickens and his stories, but on the other hand, I feel like the potential of individual actors wasn't fully utilized, and it's a film that looks nice, has good costumes, but there's just not much substance underneath. (31/03/2017)