Great Expectations (1998)

[birdienl]

In my quest to watch everything Dickensian this bicentennial year (because to read everything would simply take too much time....), I recently watched the 1998 modernized version of Great Expectations starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke.


Adapting a classic novel in a modern setting is a tricky undertaking. Some main subjects in classic stories, such as class distinctions and the need to marry well, are simply not so much of an issue anymore in the 21th century. I have seen modernized adaptations fall in two pitfalls. Some simply leave out the no longer relevant plot point, removing the story far from the classic work and making it an adaptation in name only. Others maneuver the story in such a direction as to give the main plot point its importance, but this sometimes gives the adaptation an artificial feel.

Great Expectations manages to avoid these pitfalls and takes a middle road. The movie chooses to focus mainly on the relationship between Pip (whose character is called Finn in the movie) and Estella. In this choice some other parts and characters of the classic story are left out: there is no Wemmick, no Herbert and no Orlick. Purists might rant at this and decide not to watch the movie, but keep in mind that this is a less than two hour movie. I personally think it's a brave choice and it has enabled the movie to tell a rounded story without feeling rushed and still keeping it very recognizable as Dickens' classic work. 

The roles of both Finn and Estella are played very well. Their young versions are played by two unknown, but very talented actors. Young Finn is a knuckly boy with large eyes, hungrily taking in the world around him and marveling about everything life throws in it's way. Young Estella is undoubtedly a very pretty girl and convincingly cold and haughty. Ethan Hawke conveys the struggles of older Finn very well, both in speech and body language. Though I preferred the younger version of Estella to Gwyneth Paltrow's adult portrayal, it is a fine example of her earlier roles. The movie has thoroughly modernized the attraction between Finn and Estella, leading to some (in my eyes) unnecessarily explicit scenes. Though Robert de Niro, who plays the Magwitch character, is only in the movie for a few short scenes, these are very impressive. His death is emotionally portrayed and this scene shows one of the best pieces of acting in the movie. Joe is a beautiful and warm role of Chris Cooper. Probably the largest changes have been made in the character of Miss Havisham, who is called Ms Dinsmoor in this version. She is a slightly eccentric old lady who likes to wear wigs of different colours, heavy make-up and teaches Finn and Estella how to dance. Not how I see Miss Havisham of the book, but then again, her character is subject to many different interpretations even in the period adaptations of Great Expectations.  

A big honorary mention can go to the locations chosen for this movie: a Florida fishing town portrays the Kent marshes, while the back alleys and subway stations of New York are a convincing replacement for Victorian London. The cinematography of the movie is gorgeous in it's entirety. The frequent use of the colour green, apparently a hallmark of director Alfonso Cuarón, gives the movie a slightly surreal feeling, which goes well with the story as a whole. 

In conclusion, this movie has pleasantly surprised me and now shares the first place of my personal Best Modernized Adaptations list with Bride and Prejudice! 

Comments

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

I'm always weary about modernized versions but I liked this movie. I watched it ages ago, but I remember being almost moved to tears by the scene in the gallery with Finn and Joe.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Yes, but then Joe always has the ability to reduce me to tears, also in the 'period' adaptations of Great Expectations :-(