Film

Oliver Twist

Ryan Owen 16/11/2005

Rating: 3/5

Cast: Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark,

Rel: Out Now, 130 mins

Roman Polanski teaming up with Ben Kingsley on a version of Oliver Twist has been long anticipated and well worth the wait. An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where little Oliver Twist's parents die and he is adopted by the local parish. Oliver (Barney Clark) and fellow children feel begrudged of the measly food they receive, and when Little Twist “wants some more” he is then shipped out to a new foster home where he takes to beating up one of the other workers after being bullied. He then escapes, travelling to London where he meets the charismatic Artful Dodger (Harry Eden), showing him the ways of the five finger discount. He is introduced to the incredibly handsome Fagin (Ben Kingsley) who takes a shine to Oliver, taking him under his wing. Kingsley shows us why he is Sir Ben Kingsley, by putting in a performance deserving critical acclaim as Fagin. Later in the film we meet Jamie Foreman, who plays Bill Sykes, and is frightfully terrifying. Polanski excels with exceptional set design and background characters that make us believe every second. All round it's a good film, nothing more, nothing less.