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Cinematic adaptation fails to meet ‘Expectations’ By Ashley Bach Oregon Daily Emerald The actors are beautiful, the pho tography magnificent and the art work breathtaking in “Great Expec tations,” the most recent film adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel. Now if only the sum of the movie could equal the beauty of its parts. This version, set in the present day (most likely in order to be palatable to younger audiences), seemed very promising in pre views. The producers rounded up two talented rising stars in Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke to play the leads, and ac companied them with amazing veteran actors in the supporting roles. In addition, the film was di rected by Alfonso Cuaron, whose last fdm was the beautifully ren dered “A Little Princess." Unfortunately, the film stops just short of combining all these ele ments into a satisfying whole. For one, the story is "loosely based” on the novel, which in itself is an overstatement. The same principal characters, with mostly different names, exist along with some basic plot elements. But that’s where the similarities end. The changes were no doubt meant to simplify an al ready complicated story. Instead, they muddle the narrative by fully exploring some characters, practi cally ignoring some and making up others. l ne mm opens on the Cult Coast of Florida. Eight-year-old Finn Bell (Jeremy James Kissner) is navigat ing a small motorboat to a beach in order to sketch fish and other sea critters. As he stares fixated on his subjects, he is accosted by an es caped convict named Lustig (Robert De Niro). The convict de mands that the boy help him, and he does, providing him with cut ters to remove his leg-irons and helping him elude authorities. The convict disappears, and we find that Finn, an orphan, is living with his sister and her husband, Joe, a fisherman (Chris Cooper). They are dirt-poor, but are fairly content to live by modest means. Then Finn is summoned to the es tate of Nora Dinsmoor (Anne Ban croft), a rich old coot who lives in a dilapidated old mansion. Dinsmoor wants him to play with her niece, Estella (Raquel Beaudene), who lives with her. Quickly, Finn falls in love with the older girl, who is 11 and quite precocious. She flirts with him, but ultimately treats him cruelly be cause of his social status. Soon, the two children have grown into teenagers (now played by Hawke and Paltrow), and they still meet every week at the old mansion. The crazy, embittered Dinsmoor makes them dance together and vicariously lives through their in teraction. Just as Finn and Estella’s rela tionship is starting to pick up COURTESY PHOTO Above are the film's primary actors: Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Bancroft and Robert De Niro. steam, almost literally, she leaves for boarding school in New York and Paris. Finn eventually puts her in the back of her mind, gives up the painting and drawing he loves and works for Joe as a fisherman. Soon, however, Finn’s new life is interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious lawyer, who tells Finn he is endowed by his client to make “your dreams come true.” Within a few days, Finn is off to New York with a huge apartment, a show in a prominent gallery for his paintings and a high-brow sta tus he has never known, all funded by a secret benefactor. There in the big city, he is reunit ed with Estella, and soon discovers that his expectations of his new life and who he really is may be entire ly different. The Florida scenes are great, with grand, moody photography, a MOVIE REVIEW Great Expectations Directed by Alfonso Curaron ■ GENRE: Film adaptation ■ STARRING: Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Ban croft, Robert De Niro ■ RATED: R ■ SCORE: ★★★*•■* great score and a more subtle narra tive. When the action moves to New York, and we find more of a focus on Estella and Finn, the stoiy moves faster, accompanied by completely unnecessary modem rocks hits. In the end, the feelings evoked seem a bit untrue, and sev eral plot lines have trouble con verging into one climactic moment. Hawke and Paltrow are both fine, although not spectacular, as the leads. Hawke is a capable actor, but he struts around with his chest puffed out so much that he seems to be trying to make up for his high voice and lack of machismo. De Niro is okay as Ludwig, and accu rately portrays a weathered man with an unfleeting spirit. But it is Bancroft, as the crazy Dinsmoor, who really lights up the screen. Her antics and mannerisms make Dinsmoor not only come alive, but also give the film a sense of humor and dynamo it sorely needs. The film is a beautifully ren dered tale devoid of any adequate unity in the narrative. If one is looking for a feast for the eyes, but not necessarily for the soul, go see “Great Expectations.” PLUS ’MARY LOU LORD PLUS BLACK LAB FEB 25 WILD DUCK /ILL AGES • $10 ADV * t:c«e’v:5t:]i i we t^e vusic os et was- -•;subject to setcs pee. opevvg acts subject to ewes SADB by Peter Weiss sb version by Geoffrey Skelton e adaptation by Adrian Mitchell Directed by foe Zingo Fri. & Sat. at 8:00 PM Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21, 1998 Thursday at 8:00 PM on Feb. 19 Sunday at 2:00 PM on Feb. 15 The ACE Annex - 39 West 10th LAUGHTER ON THE 25RD FLOOR BY NEIL SIMON directed by KARIN SCHEILAND Thurs., Fri. & Sat. at 8:00 PM Feb. 6,7,13,14,20,21, 26,27 & 28, 1998 Sunday at 2:00 PM on Feb. 22, 1998 Dinner, Dessert and Beverages available on Friday & Saturdays Actors Cabaret - 996 Willamette Call 683-4368 Heart Beats sendofi& tiyyoar sweetie;... only SS! • Heart Beats will run in the Emerald on February 13. • Call 346-4343 to place your Heart Beat today, or stop by the Emerald Classified Office, Suite 300, EMU • DEADLINE: 1pm, Wed., February 11th 7(/'/7c //tc t/to.s/ trctt/toc at/ <///</tom t/t/t/ttr/>/• /too.' m (UfiiwDs [VOmtlllK ilOBHCtDfSMimOi :riday, February 6,1998 Oregon Daily Emerald 9
