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Can I just say that I love having a cinema mere yards away from where I live and more than that, one that plays movies I actually want to see? And the tickets are inexpensive? I've gone to the movies more in the past few months than I have in years.
Anyway, the film. I had a very strange experience of definitely enjoying it, but knowing that I would have enjoyed it so much more if I were at all familiar with the books (even if only on a Wishbone-like level). I now kind of wished that I'd waited till I read the book (even though I know it's going to be quite some time before I read it). I think I would really have appreciated it as an adaptation instead of just as a novelty, you know?
Visually it's just the most gorgeous film. The cinematography, the production design, Dev Patel's curls...so, so lovely. And of course the cast is out of this world. I love the Brandy's Cinderella approach to casting, especially in the context of a classic work of literature. Everyone was fantastic (though I think my absolute favorite was the little boy who played baby!David. I haven't seen such a great child actor in...years). Iannucci's direction was such fun, dramatic and playful and flamboyant without it getting to the point where I was annoyed or where it felt pretentious.
The plot, of course, is all over the place, and sometimes I wanted to shout THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I'm sure many of my issues would be addressed by the book. And of course it's massively long so so much had to be condensed that there wasn't always time to explain why this thing or that thing was happening.
I definitely enjoyed it and I'm happy to give the filmmakers my £5.60. But I don't think I loved it or fully appreciated it in a way I could have if I were much more familiar with the source material.
I guess what I'm saying is that I should read more Dickens. I am a failed English major.
Anyway, the film. I had a very strange experience of definitely enjoying it, but knowing that I would have enjoyed it so much more if I were at all familiar with the books (even if only on a Wishbone-like level). I now kind of wished that I'd waited till I read the book (even though I know it's going to be quite some time before I read it). I think I would really have appreciated it as an adaptation instead of just as a novelty, you know?
Visually it's just the most gorgeous film. The cinematography, the production design, Dev Patel's curls...so, so lovely. And of course the cast is out of this world. I love the Brandy's Cinderella approach to casting, especially in the context of a classic work of literature. Everyone was fantastic (though I think my absolute favorite was the little boy who played baby!David. I haven't seen such a great child actor in...years). Iannucci's direction was such fun, dramatic and playful and flamboyant without it getting to the point where I was annoyed or where it felt pretentious.
The plot, of course, is all over the place, and sometimes I wanted to shout THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I'm sure many of my issues would be addressed by the book. And of course it's massively long so so much had to be condensed that there wasn't always time to explain why this thing or that thing was happening.
I definitely enjoyed it and I'm happy to give the filmmakers my £5.60. But I don't think I loved it or fully appreciated it in a way I could have if I were much more familiar with the source material.
I guess what I'm saying is that I should read more Dickens. I am a failed English major.
