Nicholas Nickleby

This film is based on the book by Charles Dickens. Its a novel you dont hear much about and thats understandable. The story doesnt seem to take itself very seriously, although Dickens, as usual, depicts the dregs of urban life during that period and the mistreatment of children in what were loosely referred to as schools.

The nineteen-year-old protagonist Nickleby, a goodie-two-shoes hero without a flaw, who was too pretty and too groomed to be real, under whelmed me. In contrast, the support cast was outstanding and made it worth watching the entire long drawn out predictable story. Im being too harsh. There were some interesting plot twists at the end and it is a reasonable storyline. It just doesnt have the depth or the tension of a really gripping tale.

The characters portrayed are wonderful to watch. They have a subtle comic aspect that is developed by the actors performing in a deliberately melodramatic style. This is particularly true of the schoolmaster, his wife, their son and the Uncles manservant, Noggs. Uncle Ralph, on the other hand, is a truly evil villain and you believe this beyond any doubt.

The names of the characters in this story lead you to suspect that Dickens invented this story tongue-in-cheek. Although, we learn in the Special Features, that the real life schoolmaster who was the model for the character in the novel was prosecuted as a result of his exposure by Dickens.

Christopher Plummer was outstanding as the heartless, conniving and sinister Uncle Ralph Nickleby. Plummer, amazing at age 75, has performed in 127 Film and TV works beginning in 1958.

Jim Broadbent was the strongest second character, the brutal schoolmaster of Dotheboys Hall, Wackford Squeers. This is one of those wonderful Dickens names and of course his son was Little Wackford Squeers. Broadbent is a great character actor. I just saw him as Boss Tweed in Gangs of New York (2002).

Jamie Bell plays Smike, a crippled boy befriended by Nicholas. He is a central character who is key to the success of the story. Bell is so convincing in this role, that I was shocked by his normal appearance in the DVD interviews. This was his fourth film role. In his first film, Billy Elliot (2000) he played the lead role, Billy Elliot. He is an actor to watch.

Tom Courtney plays Newman Noggs (another alliteration name like Nicholas Nickleby Dickens has no shame). He is not a front and center character like Smike, but his role in the plot is pivotal and he brings a level of complexity to the role by being comic. I saw him as Norman in The Dresser (1983).

I must mention Juliet Stevenson in the role of Mrs. Squeers. She does not have a large part, but she represents a quiet and frightening power in the dark triumvirate of evil that includes the uncle and the schoolmaster. I saw her in Emma (1996). She is currently appearing in Bend It Like Beckham (2002).

Charlie Hunnam plays Nicholas who is pure as the driven snow and as noxious as this role was, he did it justice as a Mr. Melodrama.

Reviewed July 30, 2003