Great Expectations
Great Expectations

Movie spotlight

Great Expectations

2018
Movie
15 min
English

In the space of 3 days, Pip has lost her boyfriend, her flat and her terrible, dehumanising job. Craving a new start, she returns home to the Brexit British countryside. Great Expectations retells the classic Dickens novel with a modern and darkly comedic female voice. It engages with questions about society, exploitation, loneliness and how women are viewed, all with a great deal of humour and heart.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes55%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users72%
Director: Jonathan DarbyGenres: Drama, Romance, Period Drama

Plot Summary

A young orphan, Pip, endures a harsh upbringing with his cruel sister and her blacksmith husband. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters an escaped convict in the marshes and later visits the reclusive Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward, Estella. Pip is mysteriously granted a large fortune by an anonymous benefactor, allowing him to move to London and pursue his dream of becoming a gentleman, all while grappling with his unrequited love for Estella and the dark secrets of his past.

Critical Reception

This adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novel received a mixed reception. While praised for its strong performances and visually appealing cinematography, some critics found it to be a somewhat conventional retelling that struggled to bring a fresh perspective to the familiar story. Audiences generally appreciated its faithfulness to the source material and the romantic elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually impressive with solid acting, but lacks a distinct modern take on the classic.

  • A faithful adaptation that might feel too traditional for some viewers.

  • Effectively captures the romantic melancholy of Pip's journey.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's attempt to stay true to Dickens's original narrative and the performances, particularly from the lead actors. However, some felt the pacing could be slow at times and wished for more emotional depth in certain character arcs.

Fun Fact

The 2018 film is one of many adaptations of Charles Dickens's seminal novel, with previous notable versions including the 1946 David Lean film and the 1999 made-for-television movie starring Ioan Gruffudd.

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