Finn eventually meets Nora Dinsmore (Anne Bancroft), the richest woman in town, and her niece Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow), whom he has been hired to visit every Saturday. When Estella goes away to school, Finn loses touch with both of them, until, years later, he is suddenly invited to New York to show his artwork. A mysterious trust supports him, and he reconnects with Estella and all the other characters from the past.

Director Alfonso Cuaron and screenwriter Mitch Glazer have created a modern story of obsession and revenge. Nora Dinsmore, who was jilted on the day of her wedding, thirty years before, has been training Estella, over the years, to tease and then destroy the men who love her. Anne Bancroft plays Nora to the hilt as a funky and exotic caricature, heavily made up, carrying a cigarette holder and martini glass, while gyrating to erotic music and chanting "Chick-a-boom." DeNiro is a vicious Lustig, and his first appearance is a shocker. Ethan Hawke, as Finn, does a good job, though he is hard pressed to hold his own when the rest of the cast is camping it up. Paltrow, as Estella, is coldly calculating in her sexual teasing, and lacking the vulnerability one expects. Chris Cooper, as the sympathetic Joe, provides the perfect foil for the other characters at key points in the film.

The lush cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezky) features Spanish moss, the eerie and dilapidated old house of Nora Dinsmore, lovely scenes of tidal pools and wild nature, and the hot New York art and cafe world. The director and producers have chosen nine different composers, ranging from Tory Amos to Iggy Pop, to create appropriate music for a succession of very different scenes, and they succeed in creating a haunting mood and atmosphere. Though the ending is abrupt and trite, the cast is terrific, and the film is great fun, especially in its contrasts to the Dickens novel. Mary Whipple


Great movie, great compositions, great expectations realised   April 6, 2002
 12 out of 15 found this review helpful

I watched this film, not expecting much but came out with a great sense of passion. This heart-rendering tale is told beautifully and superbly acted by an all-star cast. Not to mention the soundtrack which I have to say blew me away and reduced me to tears! The dvd has great visuals and is a real must for any movie lover.


Moody & symbolic update of the Dickens classic   August 13, 2001
 12 out of 17 found this review helpful

A brilliant rerun of the original story which stands alone as a superb manifestation of a classic in it's own right. Paltrow is simmering throughout, whilst Hawke has just the right balance of a maturing young man. Superb cameo+ roles for Bancroft and De Niro top off the excellent casting. The finish, whether it is as per the book or not (I can't remember and indeed it is irrelevant to this masterpiece), is just right.

Brilliant and evocative scenery does justice to the plot and makes the whole thing a brooding yet hugely entertaining couple of hours,


pure mastery   May 27, 2000
 8 out of 20 found this review helpful

I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK BUT THIS FILM HAS CREATED A CATALYST TO READ IT. THE FILM WAS PURE GENIUS WITH THE GEORGOUS PALTROW WHOSE FANTASTIC PROTRAYAL OF ESTELLA REALLY MAKES THE FILM REALLY EXCITING.I WAS SKEPITCAL BEFORE RENTING IT BUT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAVE EVER SEEN. BUY IT NOW AND ENJOY DICKENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.