Welcome to ‘A Brief Review’ a series of brief reviews on
films from the present day and all the way back in time. Hoping to filter
through the commotion and give some decent reviews of some rather decent films.
Armando
Iannucci builds to his already impressive CV with an innovative rendition of the
Charles Dickens novel - David Copperfield. Essentially it achieved something
that all good adaptations should do, making you want to go and read the book
that created the story in the first place!
The widely debated colour blind casting of this piece added
a hugely unique and positive feel to the performances that only a colour-blind
piece could achieve. Essentially, the best candidate for each role was chosen,
meaning that the film was not held back by any specific requirements in terms of
appearance for the various roles. A seriously fresh take on any Dickens novel
that we have witnessed in cinema form before. However, it is important to
acknowledge that this will not be to everybody’s taste, simply due to the cultural
understanding needed to enjoy the piece.
It was this colour-blind casting that allowed the British
actor of Indian descent Dev Patel to steal the show as the orphan who triumphs
through a life of adversity. Dev Patel’s sheer vibrance and spirit as David
Copperfield is undoubtedly the anchor to the film’s fun, optimistic and exciting
personality. A Charlie Chaplin style of comedic brilliance. The supporting cast most notably Hugh Laurie and
Tilda Swinton have the perfect blend of eccentricity and flair, adding to the dynamic
ensemble put together by director Armando Iannucci.
The Personal History of David Copperfield is a brave adaptation which for many people will bring up feelings of optimism and a drive for change in their own lives. A heart-warming piece with various trials and tribulations meandering in and out of the story and keeping you guessing if David will end up on top of his many antagonists!
My only criticism comes with the idea that I cannot help but
imagine it could have been even better in the form of a TV series. The final
act slightly gave me the feeling that it was a tad rushed. Nevertheless, if you
want a dickens adaptation of the 21st century, with witty direction
and a fantastically brilliant cast, then The Personal History of David
Copperfield will certainly fit the bill.
My Rating: 8/10
Comments
Post a Comment