Oliver Twist

Name: Oliver Twist
Genre: Drama, Family
Released: September 23, 2005
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Barney Clark

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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Oliver Twist

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: September 23, 2005 | PG-13

Starring: Barney Clark

Summary: Director Roman Polanski and writer Ronald Harwood re-imagine Charles Dickens' classic story of a young boy who gets involved with a gang of pickpockets in 19th Century London. (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Director: Roman Polanski

Genre(s): Drama, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 130 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Peter Rainer

Altogether remarkable, a near-masterpiece. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Yet precisely because this is by Roman Polanski, it's irresistible to read his sorrowful and seemingly classical take, from a filmmaker known as much for the schisms in his personal history as for the lurches in his work, as something much more personal and poignant. Read full review

Premiere Ryan Devlin

It's worth noting that Oliver Twist will likely be no Harry Potter at the box office, due in no small part to a lack of bombastic special effects and supernatural subplots, yet it's nearly as entertaining, even without the wizardry. Read full review

Steve Davis

As in "The Pianist," Polanski is content to allow the film's narrative to evoke the emotions he wishes his audience to experience. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Filming on locations in Prague and in various Czech locations serving as London and the English countryside, the director delivers Dickens' tale with some style. The style, however, is that of a more cautious artist than Polanski is at his best. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

The biggest surprise in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist is that there are no surprises. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

The fact that there's nothing wrong with it -- that there's nary a scenic detail or scrap of dialogue or performance that isn't utterly on the nose -- is precisely what's wrong with it. Read full review

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User Reviews

ManolisS.

Oct 1, 2006

A very personal take on Oliver Twist for Polanski, full of emotions, similar to the Pianist, where people look at life through windows, little Oliver on the road gathers all good and positive aspects of life through his adventures, near masterpiece, cinema at its best!!

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jaynee.

Sep 28, 2005

A fantastic film.

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MichaelD

Apr 18, 2011

Like Crysania, I didn't really watch or read the original ones so this was new to me. And I'll say, I really enjoyed this movie. I really didn't expect the movie to be that good.

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Broyax

Jan 16, 2017

Le film a les qualités de ses défauts et vice et versa... à moins que ce ne soit l'inverse ! L'origine de cette étrangeté est bien sûr le livre de Dickens qui nous dépeint -tout bien considéré- une histoire à dormir debout à faire couiner les violons : elle semble aussi improbableLe film a les qualités de ses défauts et vice et versa... à moins que ce ne soit l'inverse ! L'origine de cette étrangeté est bien sûr le livre de Dickens qui nous dépeint -tout bien considéré- une histoire à dormir debout à faire couiner les violons : elle semble aussi improbable qu'exagérée, tirée par les cheveux et se repaît dans le misérabilisme forcené.

Polanski part donc avec un handicap dans son adaptation : l'oeuvre elle-même. Pourtant, il évite l'écueil de la caricature et parvient à rester relativement neutre, assez distancié et presque ironique parfois. Même valse-hésitation entre une certaine légèreté et une dureté certaine : Oliver Twist est-elle une fable pour les gamins ou un conte... d'horreur ? Polanski a choisi le compromis.

Il délivre une belle réalisation, une reconstitution fidèle de cette (horrible) époque et démontre si besoin était que la direction d'acteurs est toujours son point fort. Ainsi, le gosse incarne parfaitement l'innocent persécuté par un malin destin dont Victor Hugo s'est sans doute inspiré pour son épopée des Misérables. Sans parler bien entendu de la performance exceptionnelle de Ben Kingsley... mais est-il encore nécessaire de mentionner cette évidence : Kinsley is the King indeed.

Pour résumer, on y croit pas et on en rigole presque... et en même temps, on reconnaît la beauté de l'histoire -aussi folle soit-elle- habilement portée à l'écran par un Polanski très inspiré, lui aussi.… Expand

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Rikiege

Feb 2, 2013

A movie greatly exaggerated, pessimistic and dramatic. But it's a good movie and very cultured.

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Crysania

Apr 14, 2006

Lots of people who had reviewed this movie would compare it either with the book, adapted play or previous films. As I did not have any prior experience with any of those materials, I could do an unbias review. Boring was the verdict. Although the acting was good, the production lavish and Lots of people who had reviewed this movie would compare it either with the book, adapted play or previous films. As I did not have any prior experience with any of those materials, I could do an unbias review. Boring was the verdict. Although the acting was good, the production lavish and good directing from Polanski, it failed to exhume any feelings I may have had for any of those characters except for a brief interlude at the end. Best to watch it with the sub-titles on.… Expand

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PrudenceK.

Sep 24, 2005

Frightening! That was very disturbing. Don't see it! I'm telling you that you'll be sorry. In my top 10 of most disturbing films ever made!

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