Great Expectations
Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson
Young Pip faces a dull future as a blacksmith, but his life gets some excitement with a chance encounter with an escaped convict, and then a summons to the crumbling manor of crumbling eccentric Miss Havisham. She wants a playmate/plaything for her ward, Estella, an ice queen in the making. Pip is smitten.
But after a few visits, Pip is dismissed permanently. He goes back to smithing and the years pass, until a lawyer turns up and tells Pip an anonymous benefactor wishes to make a gentleman of him. Pip’s life will change, but will Pip change with it, and for the better?
Dickens wrote in serial form – perfect for TV, but a little squishy on film. It’s also hard to judge a story that has been adapted one too many times (including recently for TV). A quality cast and production, but like Estella, a little lacking in emotion.
7/10
Released March 7, 2013.
Jonathan Empson’s TV script Chrome was nominated for an AWGIE in 2010.
His recently completed historical drama-comedy feature Leonardo’s War is in circulation, and his black comedy-thriller Get Out of Here has been optioned.
He is represented by Rick Raftos Management.