Oliver Twist (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Ronald Harwood (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Pickpocket | Workhouse | Thief | Runaway

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Barney Clark	...	Oliver Twist
Jeremy Swift	...	Mr. Bumble
Ian McNeice	...	Mr. Limbkins
Richard Durden	...	Unkind Board Member
Timothy Bateson	...	Parson / Man with a Punch
Andy de la Tour	...	Workhouse Master
Filip Hess	...	Workhouse Boy (as Filip Hes)
Andreas Papadopoulos	...	Workhouse Boy
Laurie Athey	...	Workhouse Boy
Joseph Tremain	...	Hungry Boy
Peter Copley	...	Dining Hall Master
Andy Linden	...	Mr. Gamfield - the Chimney Sweep
John Nettleton	...	1st Magistrate
Tony Noble	...	2nd Magistrate
Michael Heath	...	Mr. Sowerberry

Also Known As:

Oliver Twist (France) (Italy)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

UK | Czech Republic | France | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:PG (cut) | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | Mexico:B | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:11 | Finland:K-11 | Finland:K-11 (video premiere) (2006) | South Korea:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

R.P. Productions

Trivia:

Director Roman Polanski's children have parts in the film. Morgane Polanski plays the farmer's daughter and Elvis Polanski plays the boy with the hoop.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The shop "John Lobb - Bootmaker" is visible in the background in London. The story takes place in the late 1830s, but the well- known London boot maker John Lobb wasn't founded until 1866.

Quotes:

Artful Dodger: I suppose you've been walkin so long on the beak's order?
Oliver Twist: What's that?
Artful Dodger: Don't you know what a beak is?
Oliver Twist: It's a bird's mouth isn't it?
Artful Dodger: [laughs] You are green. A beak's a magistrate, where have you been all your life?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in It's a Happy Movie: The Children's Making-of (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Newry Town

I thought it was great!

I completely disagree with the comment I just read. I thought Roman Polanski did great respects to the story and to Dickens. I thought all of the performances were well done and Ben Kingsley was just amazing. I have been in the production of Oliver! the musical three times and have read the book about a million times. It is one of my all time favorite stories and plays and I have been disappointed with the past Oliver Twist films. I remember a few years ago I saw a very poorly done Oliver Twist with Elijah Wood as the Artful Dodger. This one did not disappoint me as a huge fan in the least. I feel Roman Polanski really understood what Dickens was trying to express in his books. And by the way, the character Oliver is supposed to faint, it is a sign of his weakness. I know I am repeating myself but I really did love the performances. The Artful Dodger was great and Mr.Salsbury was done so justly. Even the smallest characters were performed amazingly. I think the only way someone would foolishly call this off as a poorly written, poorly acted, or poorly done film was if they were blind and deaf! No offense to anyone who is of course, but I was very taken aback, as I said, by the comment I just read about this film. The only thing it has against it is that it's a bit long. I knew where the story was going at every moment but for someone just being introduced to Oliver Twist, it might seem to go on for a while. But if you look back at the history of movies, many of the best films are long. If you are a fan of Charles Dickens, please see this film - you will love it. If you are a fan of Roman Polanski it is one of his best! If you wish to be entertained in a very classic and non-offensive way, please see this film. I just loved it and could go on and on. This is a story and film for all ages!