duminică, 18 februarie 2018

Great Expectations, based very loosely on the masterpiece by Charles Dickens


Great Expectations, based very loosely on the masterpiece by Charles Dickens


The 1946 adaptation for the big screen is still much better that this version, in spite of the reputable cast.

Ethan Hawke as Finnegan Bell, Gwyneth Paltrow in the role of Estella, Chris Cooper as Joe, Anne Bancroft in the role of Ms. Dinsmoor, Robert de Niro as the prisoner Lustig and the other good actors make an effort.
                Alas, the result is not satisfying.

                In part, disappointment comes from…

                Great Expectations

Positive Psychology suggests one rule of happiness, among many others, which recommends that:
                You lower your expectations.

If one has in mind the original masterpiece, we can find it on the list of best novels ever written.
It is on the Norwegian Book Club’s list of The Top 100 Books of All Time, available on the Guardian site:


Therefore, when considering that the original material is a chef d’oeuvre, viewers are entitled to anticipate a triumph.
Add to this the aforementioned stellar cast and you can walk into a cinema hall with dreamy eyes.

Only you would be better off staying at home and looking for the classic David Lean film, with John Mills.

In the Charles Dickens novel, a boy from a poor family saves a frightening fugitive who is later caught by the law.
Pip meets Estella and her protector, Miss Havisham, a rich woman that the hero thinks is responsible for his fortune.

An unknown benefactor pays for the ascension of the poor Pip, his transfer to London and consequent wellbeing.
Matters are more complicated with Estella, a girl that the resentful Havisham teaches to wound men.

Having been abandoned by a man, exactly on her wedding day, the old woman has a revenge to take.
Estella would be the instrument.

If the structure has been maintained to a certain degree, many aspects have been changed in the new adaptation.
Pip becomes Finnegan Bell and a painter, who has some exciting, erotic scenes with the beautiful Estella.

Gwyneth Paltrow might know a thing or two about wellbeing, given her new position as CEO of…Goop.
Late night show comedians have had a field day on the new company owned and controlled by Paltrow.

It is supposed to be offering advice, solutions and luxuriant means to suit any- extremely expensive- taste.
You can go to Goop with

Great Expectations
However, as Bill Maher joked about this phantasmagoria, it makes people who watch Se7en enjoy the end…

When the head of Paltrow, spoiler alert, the hilarious Bill Maher adds, is presented in a box, one is glad…
Alfonso Cuaron has had much better results:

Gravity, Y Tu Mama Tambien and for those who enjoy this kind of summer, teenage movie- Harry Potter

Alas, Great Expectations are not met in this modern, confusing at times take, with a horrifying Anne Bancroft, unconvincing Ethan Hawke, far from the days when he enchanted audiences with Before Sunset and Before Sunrise…

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