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Great Expectations (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
30 January 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
Let desire be your destiny.Plot:
Modernization of Charles Dickens classic story finds the hapless Finn as a painter in New York pursuing his unrequited and haughty childhood love. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
1 win & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(37 articles)
One if By Land, Two if By Sea: Great Expectations on "Mad Men" (From Televisionary. 22 September 2009, 11:02 AM, PDT)
Megan Fox is a Circus Freak in Passion Play
(From Worst Previews. 8 September 2009, 6:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A modernization of the classic tale done in great style! more (179 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Ethan Hawke | ... | Finnegan Bell | |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | ... | Estella | |
| Hank Azaria | ... | Walter Plane | |
| Chris Cooper | ... | Joe | |
| Anne Bancroft | ... | Ms. Dinsmoor | |
| Robert De Niro | ... | Prisoner / Lustig | |
| Josh Mostel | ... | Jerry Ragno | |
| Kim Dickens | ... | Maggie | |
| Nell Campbell | ... | Erica Thrall | |
| Gabriel Mann | ... | Owen (as Gabriel Mick) | |
| Jeremy James Kissner | ... | Finnegan at Age 10 | |
| Raquel Beaudene | ... | Estella at Age 10 | |
| Stephen Spinella | ... | Carter Macleish | |
| Marla Sucharetza | ... | Ruth Shepard | |
| Isabelle Anderson | ... | Lois Pope |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some sexuality.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
111 minCountry:
USAColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #35333) | Philippines:PG-13 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Finn enters the Borough Club to see Estella, Walter is talking about Michaelangelo's artwork, but his lips aren't moving. moreQuotes:
Finn: That's a big cat! That's the biggest cat I've ever seen! What do you feed it?Ms. Nora Digger Dinsmoor: Other cats.
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Soundtrack:
Special Report moreFAQ
Chapter Headings, an official version:more
more (179 total)
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It is always going to be a challenge to take a classic novel and turn it into be a movie that will satisfy everyone, especially when the story is being changed and adapted to fit a modern setting. If what you want to find from this movie is an exact translation of the book you will be unimpressed.
I personally loved this movie, it is completely stylish thanks to a brilliant soundtrack and the gorgeous leads Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow (who is cast perfectly as the beautiful ice queen). They are helped along by a strong supporting cast of Anne Bancroft (wonderfully eccentric as Ms. Nora Dinsmoor), Chris Cooper and Robert DiNero.
The problem, however, is that in trying to fit a story as long and complicated as Great expectations' into a 90 minute movie you loose a lot of the development of the characters necessary to identify and have an emotional reaction to them.
Rather than linger on these issues Alfonso Cuaron concentrated on the visual aspect of the movie and the result is a movie that is great to watch!