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Dickens’ worlds always have the distinction of being completely
real yet somehow strange and fantastic. It is no less the case
with Nicholas Nickleby, whose constant magic comes continually
from the heart.
Nicholas Nickleby (Charlie Hunnam) is just 19 years old when his
father dies, leaving him to care for his mother (Stalla Gonet)
and sister, Kate (Romola Garai). They leave their country home
for London, where lives their father’s rich brother, Ralph
(Christopher Plummer). He is a cruel man who sends Nicholas off
to work as a schoolmaster for Wackford Squeers (Jim Broadbent),
while he tries to prostitute Kate off to his investors.
Nicholas then undergoes various adventures wherein he stands up
for goodness and struggles to make things right. At Squeers’
school he defends and befriends a boy named Smike (Jamie Bell),
who has been poorly treated by both Squeers and his wife (Juliet
Stevenson). The Squeers are much like the Thenardiers, with Smike
being their Cosette, and Nicholas playing Jean Valjean. Nicholas
and Smike escape and stumble upon a traveling theater company
led by Vincent Crummles (Nathan Lane). Nicholas soon finds him
playing Shakespeare’s Romeo while he helps Smike play the
apothecary. But as soon as Nicholas becomes aware of his sister’s
troubles, he returns to his family. Back in London, Nicholas continues
to protect Smike, gets a good job and falls in love with Madeline
(Anne Hathaway). Nicholas’ strong spirit, pure heart, and
faith are endearing. The story is warm, hopeful and full of humor.
Everything is done beautifully on the technical level, the lighting
and cinematography are always appropriate to the scene. Hunnam
does a fine job as Nicholas and quite effectively gives some powerful
speeches. Jim Broadbent is fantastic as the creepy Squeers and
Christopher Plummer is equally convincing as the cold, hard Uncle
Ralph.
I would have liked to see Nicholas grow more throughout the story.
He seems to be a bit too good from beginning to end. But, even
still, it’s refreshing to see such a good heart on the screen.
In fact, Nicholas Nickleby is just that. As the ending
brings us back, with happiness among all, into the open countryside,
we feel like the last couple hours really has been a breath of
fresh air.
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