Our take
While writing the classic novel Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens was also writing Nicholas Nickleby, with volumes released every month. His third novel was adapted in 2002 in a film adaptation that smooths out Dickens’ elaborate plot, with beautiful sets and costumes, and the classic good vs evil themes the classic novelist is known for. There’s a bit of a mismatch with Charlie Hunnam as the titular protagonist, but the rest of the cast slips into their characters well, most notably Christopher Plummer as the incredibly stingy uncle Ralph, and Jamie Bell, whose rendition of Smike makes his dynamic with Nickleby compelling. Nicholas Nickleby isn’t the most transformative adaptation, but it’s one that still works, especially for young viewers wanting a simplified plot for their book reports.
What it won
Golden Globes
1 nom
Nat. Board of Review
1 win
European Film Awards
1 nom
The story
Nicholas Nickleby, a young boy in search of a better life, struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his coldheartedly grasping uncle.
Elsewhere
"... makes for bravura storytelling..."
— John Leonard
"Pic separates itself out by hitting the humor as hard as the pathos, finding a nice contrast between the caricatures of the supporting roles and the dimensionality of the leads."
— Steven Oxman
After the death of his father, Nicholas Nickleby and his mother and sister are left with no money. Because of this, they go to London to ask for help from his wealthy, coldhearted uncle, which leads him to a series of adventures as he struggles to save his family and friends.
Charlie Hunnam wasn’t downright terrible, really. It’s just that his accent is off, and there’s something about the way his face and his dyed hair felt distinctly 2010s.
It’s not terrible. It’s just really shortened, and to be fair, considering that the original novel was 65 chapters long and the stage play was 8 hours long, this wasn’t an easy task.
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
