My God, how anyone could call this film good I don't know, I believe this is Polanski's worst film and not only that but of the many adaptations I've seen of Oliver Twist this is by far the worst, the acting, script and direction were all dire! The complex plot of the novel is really simplified even more so than in the musical. It is as though Polanski is aiming to appeal to a younger audience, after all let us not forget his fondness for children ;). Disgarding the major plot point of the story, Oliver's true identity, was a grave mistake and it shows, in other adaptations the way in which Oliver's parentage is discovered plays a good part in engaging our attention. Where as in this travesty all we get is a simple little tale in which the only outcome is Oliver gets to live happily ever after with the Brownlow family.
After I'd seen the film I couldn't believe that it had received such positive critical acclaim. In fact it was so bad that I was very tempted to to walk out early in the film, and having seen the entire shoddy production, I wish I had!
After I'd seen the film I couldn't believe that it had received such positive critical acclaim. In fact it was so bad that I was very tempted to to walk out early in the film, and having seen the entire shoddy production, I wish I had!