- Actors: Charlie Hunnam, Jamie Bell, Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent, Anne Hathaway
- Directors: Douglas McGrath
- Writers: Douglas McGrath, Charles Dickens
- Producers: Gail Egan, Jeff Sharp, John Hart, Michael Hogan, Robert How
- Language English
- Classification: PG
- Studio: MGM
- VHS Release Date: 10 Nov 2003
- Run Time: 132 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0000C24U1
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 6,105 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of Charles Dickens' most popular novels, Nicholas Nickleby returns to the big screen for the first time since the excellent 1947 Ealing version in a visually breathtaking, lavishly produced new Hollywood interpretation. Following the honest and decent young Nicholas through a darkly oppressive Victorian England, the story moves from a grim boarding school to colourful adventures in the theatre and beyond, interweaving as many of Dickens' subplots and rich characters as possible into two hours. The little known Charlie Hunnam makes a spirited hero and is surrounded by such fine actors as Tom Courtenay, Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent (wonderful as the grotesque Wackford Squeers), Edward Fox, Juliet Stevenson and Jamie Bell.
This fast-paced film is never less than entertaining and is certainly by far the most handsome screen version of the story, sharing a life-enhancing energy with director Doug McGrath's previous Brit-lit adaptation, Jane Austen's Emma (1996). Inevitably much of the complexity and detail of the very long source novel has been sacrificed, and in this regard the 2000 TV version starring James D'Arcy has the advantage. Purists might be happier still with the acclaimed nine-hour 1982 RSC stage adaptation.
On the DVD: Nicholas Nickleby's first disc offers a superb anamorphically enhanced, 2.35:1 transfer. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is involving and atmospheric and makes the most of Rachel Portman's score. Also included is a very thoughtful and engaging commentary by McGrath, which adds a whole new level of appreciation to the film. Disc 2's most substantial extra is a solid 29-minute "making of" documentary featuring all the main cast and production personnel. The Life of Charles Dickens: "A Mirror to his Work" relates the book to Dickens' life with comments from the cast in an all-too-brief 12 minutes. The Cast on the Cast (16 minutes) features them chatting amiably on the afternoon of the New York premiere. Views on the Set simply produces five key shots from two different angles. The set is completed by a gimmicky trailer and a three-part photo gallery--a fair set of extras but not enough to call this edition truly special. --Gary S Dalkin
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Despite being overlooked on release, Douglas McGrath's wonderful 2002 version of Dickens' tale of good rewarded captures both the feel and the sound of Dickens remarkably well. This world is indeed lived in, and the characters are vividly realised. The underplayed theatricality of Nathan Lane's opening and closing narration, allied to a strong sense of the cinematic sets the perfect tone right from the start, and its reprise at the ending is almost a well-deserved bow from the filmmakers.
It's even good enough to overcome the void at its center that is Charlie Hunnam, clearly cast for his looks since acting isn't a strong point. Indeed, it's bizarre that in a film with so many Americans, Canadians and Australians in its cast, the most unconvincing accent comes from a Brit, but Geordie Hunnam's curiously Scouse accent sticks out like a sore thumb, not only at odds with the rest of his family but also making him sound like a bored Beatle throughout - a kind of benign George Harrison without the `tache or the personality. As another poster has pointed out, it's a long way from Master Nickleby's Devonshire whatever it's meant to be.
Thankfully his blandness is more than compensated for by some excellent work by Christopher Plummer's villainous uncle, avoiding the usual caricature the role inspires, and Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson and Heather Goldenhersch (boasting such a perfect English accent I was surprised to find she was American) as the hideous Squeers family, embracing it and pulling it off magnificently, while Nathan Lane and Dame Edna Everidge are truly inspired casting as the open-hearted but financially challenged theatricals Mr and Mrs Crummles. There's fine work from Timothy Spall, Tom Courtenay, Phil Davis and, most surprising of all, even Edward Fox as well. It doesn't avoid the sentimentality but manages to turn it into genuine emotion, not least because no-one falls into the trap of wildly overplaying - even Dame Edna.
All in all an unexpectedly delightful, genuinely likeable, sincerely heartwarming film that deserved more success than it found - but as Mrs Crummles notes, in the great struggle between "those aged combatants art and commerce... art, it would appear from the receipts, is in its usual position of jeopardy."
It's even good enough to overcome the void at its center that is Charlie Hunnam, clearly cast for his looks since acting isn't a strong point. Indeed, it's bizarre that in a film with so many Americans, Canadians and Australians in its cast, the most unconvincing accent comes from a Brit, but Geordie Hunnam's curiously Scouse accent sticks out like a sore thumb, not only at odds with the rest of his family but also making him sound like a bored Beatle throughout - a kind of benign George Harrison without the `tache or the personality. As another poster has pointed out, it's a long way from Master Nickleby's Devonshire whatever it's meant to be.
Thankfully his blandness is more than compensated for by some excellent work by Christopher Plummer's villainous uncle, avoiding the usual caricature the role inspires, and Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson and Heather Goldenhersch (boasting such a perfect English accent I was surprised to find she was American) as the hideous Squeers family, embracing it and pulling it off magnificently, while Nathan Lane and Dame Edna Everidge are truly inspired casting as the open-hearted but financially challenged theatricals Mr and Mrs Crummles. There's fine work from Timothy Spall, Tom Courtenay, Phil Davis and, most surprising of all, even Edward Fox as well. It doesn't avoid the sentimentality but manages to turn it into genuine emotion, not least because no-one falls into the trap of wildly overplaying - even Dame Edna.
All in all an unexpectedly delightful, genuinely likeable, sincerely heartwarming film that deserved more success than it found - but as Mrs Crummles notes, in the great struggle between "those aged combatants art and commerce... art, it would appear from the receipts, is in its usual position of jeopardy."
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I dare anybody to watch this Dickens film through with dry eyes! Anybody that claims he or she did has a nonchalant way with the truth, if you ask me.
Director McGrath has made a number of tough, but altogether valid choices concerning what to skip and what to keep in his film of Dickens' marathon novel in order to keep the running time just barely within two hours. I can just see Dickens nodding benignly from up above. Charlie Hunnam is angelic, but also unsentimental as the gentle Nicholas, separated from his mother and sister, as after the death of his father they surrender themselves to the mercy of his cynical brother. The heart of the plot is Nicholas' friendship with the cripple Smike (Jamie Bell is brilliant, simply brilliant), a boy that he saves from the archetypal sadistic Dickensian orphanage.
McGrath's film is positively brimming with eloquent supporting actors, and in the late autumn of his career Christopher Plummer proves himself to be quite the actor in what may amount to his best part ever as the cruel uncle.
I can even recommend the extras on the extra DVD, they are to the point and for once not a complete waste of time.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
To summarise, I enjoyed this film for what it was, a pleasant way to pass a few hours when you don't have anything better to do. If you want a high quality, serious adaption of Dickens, then don't see this one, see the ITV adaption made a few years ago with James D'Arcy and Charles Dance. The main critisms have to be the cast. Romola Garai as Kate Nickleby was simply terrible. Dressed 18th century, acting 2003. Totally mis-cast and put to shame by the superb Anne Hathaway. I had been told that Charlie Hunnam as Nicholas was by far the worst actor there. I disagree. Yes, his performance wasn't great, but you could see that he was trying hard. Just not quite good enough as an actor. Garai was worse by far.
Despite this, there were a few stars, notably the Squeers family (with the exception of the son). Evil, yet hysterical. Also Jamie Bell as Smike was fabulous, as was Nathan Lane as Mr Crumbles. I just loved Jim Broadbent as Mr Squeers, great to see Jim stepping out of the 'nice guy' role, yet still retained the affections of the audience.
See this film if only for Jim and Jamie, just be prepared to overlook the duds.
The DVD extras are almost worth the cost on their own. The 'cast on the cast' section is well worth a look.
Despite this, there were a few stars, notably the Squeers family (with the exception of the son). Evil, yet hysterical. Also Jamie Bell as Smike was fabulous, as was Nathan Lane as Mr Crumbles. I just loved Jim Broadbent as Mr Squeers, great to see Jim stepping out of the 'nice guy' role, yet still retained the affections of the audience.
See this film if only for Jim and Jamie, just be prepared to overlook the duds.
The DVD extras are almost worth the cost on their own. The 'cast on the cast' section is well worth a look.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nick Nickelby
DVD Nicholas Nickelby
I'm into Charles Dickens and had not seen this, wanted it, ordered it, it came within days, beautilfully wrapped and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm into Charles Dickens and had not seen this, wanted it, ordered it, it came within days, beautilfully wrapped and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Published 2 months ago by tota.m
Poor
Some films are ruined by a single miscasting. Kyle MacLachlan was signed up for a multi film deal for the film adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune series but this was scuppered by... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Numinous Ugo
All star cast production of a Dickens.
This is a solid all star cast production of Nicolas Nickleby. Well acted and scripted, it is a decent production of the book and I always like watching.
Published 20 months ago by Jr Crossley
Nicholas Nickleby DVD
Another DVD ourchased for my grandaughter to assist her with her studies. Good value, fast delivery.
Published 21 months ago by Peter Carr
A Good Work Spoiled!
First of all it has to be said that there a quite a few excellent versions of Nicholas Nickleby on the market,sadly this cannot be considered to be one of them. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by SeaSideSam
Nicholas Nickleby - Excellent movie
I have at least two comments about this movie. First, I was impressed by the actor's play. Very nice and smooth way. This of course is coupled with the never dying Dickens. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2009 by Yan Alperovych
Don't bother with this version
That's it really. Go to the RSC version every time for the real Nick-Nick experience.
They just don't get it with this one - the characters are two-dimensional and the... Read more
They just don't get it with this one - the characters are two-dimensional and the... Read more
Published on 1 May 2009 by N. Baker
Almost perfect Nicholas
This came as a bit of a surprise, suffice it to say, due to the photo used on the cover. I expected less but was so pleasantly surprised! Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2008 by Kendra
charlie
this film is well worth a watch just 4 charlie i really enjoyed it charlie your lovely x please buy this dvd u wont be dissapointed trust me
Published on 5 Feb 2008 by Mr. J. Edmunds
Douglas McGrath Nicholas Nickleby is the Better Version
This is the better version to watch and have in your private collection. It has all the elements without going over the top. Read more
Published on 30 May 2007 by vessie@oz
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