"Common Dickensian themes of poverty, social class, and honor come across clearly in this tale of a 19-year-old country gentlemen (Charlie Hunnam) who is suddenly impoverished when his beloved father dies after losing his fortune. Nicholas, with his mother (Stella Gonet) and sister Kate (Romola Garai), find themselves at the mercy of their rich, loutish uncle Ralph Nickleby (Christopher Plummer) who delights only in their misery. He sends Nicholas away to work as a teacher at Dotheboys Hall, a decrepit boarding school attended by sad, soiled, abused urchins. Meanwhile, Kate's reputation is at stake with uncle Ralph trying to marry her off to a foulmouthed client to whom he owes a debt. With the help of his faithful sidekick Smike (Jamie Bell), Nicholas avenges Kate's honor and conspires with some new friends to bring down horrid uncle Ralph."
I did not just write that. I didn't feel like I could express the story line well enough. Forgive me for that. But anyways,there is some child abuse at Dotheboys, so sometimes it is hard to watch.
But the reason this is so good, Charles Dickens was able to express tragedy,comedy,and adventure all the the same book. The acting was done terrificly well. My favorite character, Smike, is a cripple,who was a former student at Dotheboys,but having no family,the Squeers keep him on "out of the kindness of their hearts". If you watch the movie, you will see the reason for the quotation marks. Christopher Plummer is the evil Uncle Ralph,and he does that wonderfully.The cast also includes Charlie Hunnam(Nicholas),Nathan Lane, Jim Broadbent,Juliet Stevenson,and Barry Humphries. This is a wonderful adaption of the book,
and it is definitely worth watching. ~JAM~ <3
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