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'Oliver Twist' lacks the Roman Polanski twist
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

"Oliver Twist," Charles Dickens' classic about an orphan's adventures — and misadventures — in 19th-century England, can survive a lot of things. It can survive without color (David Lean's 1948 "Oliver Twist"). It can survive a Broadway musical (Carol Reed's 1968 "Oliver!") It can even survive being Disney-ized as a feature about an animated cat (1988's "Oliver & Company"). But it can't survive without an Oliver, and Barney Clark, the boy actor Polanski has cast in his version of Dickens' tale, has about as much presence as a piece of chalk. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
A retelling of the classic Charles Dickens tale: Orphaned at an early age, Oliver Twist is forced to live in a workhouse in 19th century London. When he escapes the intolerable conditions of the workhouse, Oliver falls in with a gang of pickpockets masterminded by the sinister Fagin, eventually to be rescued and given the hope of a better life.

FILM FACTS ...

Columbia Pictures

'Oliver Twist'

Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark, Jamie Foreman, Frank Finlay, Harry Eden
Run time: 130 minutes
Release date: September 30, 2005
Rating: PG-13 for disturbing images.
See showtimes

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
Trailers require Quicktime

READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: C
"Polanski has said he made the movie for his school-age children. Looked at in that light, the movie has a certain jolly blandness. It's safe, it's presentable. But nothing more."