For the sake of my mom, I'll be kind in my review of the modern remake of Great Expectations. I watched it when I was far too young and wasn't able to appreciate much of it. When you look at it from a literary point of view (instead of a nine-year-old's) it's a very clever adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic to a modern American setting.
Pip (Finn in this version) is played by Ethan Hawke, a perfect choice, since he'd recently starred in Snow Falling on Cedars and Hamlet. He lives with his sister and her boyfriend Joe (modernized from husband), and instead of going "on the rampage" she upsets the homelife by being promiscuous. Robert De Niro plays Magwitch (Lustig in this version), an escaped convict who encounters the young boy. Anne Bancroft is Miss Havisham (Dinsmoor in this version), an eccentric, wealthy woman who trains her niece (not her ward) to protect her heart at the expense of others. Instead of hiring Pip as a playmate, which wouldn't make sense in a modern setting, Joe is hired for gardening (he's not a blacksmith in this version) and by chance Pip meets Estella. As the aspiration of "becoming a gentleman" doesn't apply to modern American thinking, Pip's ambition is to be a painter. I don't know how English audiences feel about this adaptation, but it's a valiant effort to connect with Americans.
Both Magwitch and Miss Havisham are highly sought after parts, and while in this version, Magwitch is still given a lot to do, Anne Bancroft's role is unfortunately censored. The one portion of the story that just can't translate to a modern setting no matter how much the screenwriter tries is the reason behind Miss Havisham's solitude. No one would consider herself a ruined woman and lose her mind because she was left at the altar. Today's attitudes towards relationships, marriage, and sex are completely different, so instead of the true character of Miss Havisham, she has to just be portrayed as an eccentric old lady.
If you love Great Expectations, you'll probably like this version, since it's obviously thoughtful and pays great attention to detail. The acting is great, so even if you don't like the changes, you'll still be entertained. Seeing Chris Cooper hurt just makes you want to cry, doesn't it?
Pip (Finn in this version) is played by Ethan Hawke, a perfect choice, since he'd recently starred in Snow Falling on Cedars and Hamlet. He lives with his sister and her boyfriend Joe (modernized from husband), and instead of going "on the rampage" she upsets the homelife by being promiscuous. Robert De Niro plays Magwitch (Lustig in this version), an escaped convict who encounters the young boy. Anne Bancroft is Miss Havisham (Dinsmoor in this version), an eccentric, wealthy woman who trains her niece (not her ward) to protect her heart at the expense of others. Instead of hiring Pip as a playmate, which wouldn't make sense in a modern setting, Joe is hired for gardening (he's not a blacksmith in this version) and by chance Pip meets Estella. As the aspiration of "becoming a gentleman" doesn't apply to modern American thinking, Pip's ambition is to be a painter. I don't know how English audiences feel about this adaptation, but it's a valiant effort to connect with Americans.
Both Magwitch and Miss Havisham are highly sought after parts, and while in this version, Magwitch is still given a lot to do, Anne Bancroft's role is unfortunately censored. The one portion of the story that just can't translate to a modern setting no matter how much the screenwriter tries is the reason behind Miss Havisham's solitude. No one would consider herself a ruined woman and lose her mind because she was left at the altar. Today's attitudes towards relationships, marriage, and sex are completely different, so instead of the true character of Miss Havisham, she has to just be portrayed as an eccentric old lady.
If you love Great Expectations, you'll probably like this version, since it's obviously thoughtful and pays great attention to detail. The acting is great, so even if you don't like the changes, you'll still be entertained. Seeing Chris Cooper hurt just makes you want to cry, doesn't it?