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Just saw The Personal HIstory of David Copperfield
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.
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And this distracted me because, aww, is the little cinema still there in town? With one showing per night and queued up students getting turned away if it's really popular? Or has it reached the 21st C yet?
(When we were there, the best bit was that because it was independent it had some local ad for Aber businesses and they were pricelessly terrible and we loved them. I'm pretty sure they'd stopped doing that 20 years ago when I was returning for a visit, though, even. But they really did for a while. It was great.)
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I'm pretty sure the local commercials are no more, wish is such a shame--I would love to see them.
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I'm pretty sure the local commercials are no more, wish is such a shame--I would love to see them.
Yeah, I'm certain they stopped with them not long after I left, but it was just so funny - go to the cinema and start with these truly tacky home-made adverts for local Aber businesses. We used to know the words because they were always the same.
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the film. I have a bit of a love-hate thing for Dickens and while it's been a very long time since I read David Copperfield, it definitely came in on the love side, if not as much as Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House.
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You should seek it out at some point, whether in theaters or when it's released! I think if you liked the book, you'll really love the movie.
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With that being said: I think this movie looks great and I would love to see it if it ever makes it to Alaska! And maybe I'll skim through the book beforehand. :)
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I think you will enjoy the movie!
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Or are you just better at reading other things professors don't have on their syllabus but should? :D
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That sounds absolutely charming, and I hope you get to see many a movie you'd have missed otherwise!
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