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Twist
Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Jacob Tierney
Charles Dickens (novel Oliver Twist)
Directed by: Jacob Tierney
Release Date:
Theatrical: May 21, 2004
DVD: October 19, 2004
Running Time: 97 minutes, Color
Origin: Canada
Summary
RATING: Not Rated
Starring Joshua Close, Gary Farmer, James Gilpin, Josh Holliday, Mike Lobel, Max McCabe, Stephen McHattie, and Andre Noble
A calmly lucid re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist, updated to current times and moved out of the poor house and onto the streets of Toronto. (Strand Releasing)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Variety David Stratton
Shot on location in subdued colors, Twist offers much less hope for its troubled characters than Dickens did. Its very downbeat vision may turn off auds, which is a pity because the film has a great many qualities, not least the admirable performances of Stahl, Close and Pelletier.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Under Tierney's admirably low-key, unexploitative direction all his actors are memorable and never seem to be acting. Twist is decidedly dark but consistently engaging.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen
It's a mini-masterwork of acting. Stahl is definitely one to watch closely -- he's the real deal. But the emerging plot isn't.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman
Unfortunately, despite some strong performances, the movie never really makes a case for its own existence.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
There's nothing original, nor compelling, about Twist.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein
Although the acting is uneven and the movie's dead spots make it feel far longer than its running time, the twist in Twist' is certainly clever.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Dave Kehr
In both Twist and "Idaho," the act of placing a larger-than-life literary figure in a constrained, narrowly naturalistic environment merely strips the characters of their scale and interest.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Ken Fox
Tierney's so-serious script lacks any trace of humor, which might actually have made this depressing film feel a bit more real.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Ella Taylor
A stripling of 24, Tierney has a very young man's immature passion for unrelieved misery, which borders at times on the tedious, at others on the downright comical.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Jorge Morales
Stahl plays just one note: anguish. You know things are bad when the most interesting character, the menacing brute Bill Sykes, is never heard or seen on-screen.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
Even more egregious than the film's concept is its execution, as it somehow manages to make scenes of drug addiction, hustling and even brotherly incest quite tedious.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
C Crowe gave it a9:
Subtle, gritty with excellent acting. I liked the low key but honest emotional story. Not Hollywood style - much better. Extraordinary considering the age of the writer/director.
Erin gave it an 8:
Twist is a movie that is complex yet it drags through some parts. Nick Stahl's performance is well crafted and keeps the audience watching and feeling for his character. Toronto is actually called Toronto in the film since the film makers decided not to pretend it was a large American city.
