Great Expectations Movie Review
Director – Brian Kirk
Cast – Douglas Booth as Pip, Vanessa Kirby as Estella, Ray Winstone as Abel Magwitch, Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham and David Suchet as Jaggers.
Brian Kirk reworks the memorable coming-of-age story by Charles Dickens and brings the story of the impoverished orphan, Pip, to modern audiences.
Kirk implants a cinematically rich appropriation of the inspiring novel that seems to transcend both time and place. The film portrays the harsh realities of life in Victorian England and evokes a gloomy atmosphere. The director replicates Dickens’ Great Expectations in an incredible costume drama with unpredictable plot turns.
The remarkable tale details the life of Phillip ‘Pip’ Pirrip (Douglas Booth), born a young orphan who matures into a developed man. After being interrogated by an escaped convict known as Abel Magwitch (Ray Winstone) whom he assists, he discovers the dangers and harsh truth of life. Pip lives with his abusive sister, Mrs Gargery (Claire Rushbrook) who is married to the passive and kind Joe Gargery (Shaun Dooley), the blacksmith in the area. When a rich woman, Miss Havisham (Gillian Anderson), who resides in the dilapidated Satis House, invites Pip to play with her adopted daughter, Estella (Vanessa Kirby), Mrs Gargery enthusiastically accepts in order to increase their status in society. Pip falls in love with Estella and he visits her numerous times. When lawyer, Jaggers (David Suchet), confronts Pip to tell him that a benefactor has provided him with a fortune, Pip moves to London. This move changes Pip’s life forever. Meeting new friends and enemies, the emotional and deep journey of Pip’s life begins. He discovers the meaning of life. Pip becomes a man.
The film serves the audience outstanding colour and atmosphere that exemplifies the original story written by Charles Dickens. Brian Kirk depicts Dickens’ masterpiece using characters as described in the novel, the same, unpredictable plot twists and the dramatic tone is expressed. The variety of camera angles and shots provided contrast to the deep emotions felt by both the audience and the characters. Many reviewers argue that some actors do not suit the characters, especially Gillian Anderson due to her age. However, Kirk uses perspective and voice in ways that make it impossible to distinguish between Anderson and Ms Havisham.
The portrayal of the book in the film is expressed thoroughly through characters and scenes throughout the plot. Dickens’ style of writing is expressed with evocative dialogue and dramatic music and scenery that mirror Dickens’ work. Dickens’ life played its role in the making of Great Expectations, including the bildungsroman of Pip and also the harshness of lawyers and solicitors from Dickens’ own life. Although some parts of the film were lead astray from the dramatic mood, the overall film is an effective appropriation of the original classic novel.
The film is an example of Kirk’s achievements and his desire to invite the public into the world of the novel written by one of the world’s best novelists.
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