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by Marcy Dermansky
I will admit that I can be a sucker for an English costume drama. The accents, the costumes, the lush countryside, the elegant thespians, the intricate manners. That sharp biting dialogue. But these elements on their own cannot equal a movie. Director Douglas McGrath, best known for the Victorian adaptation "Emma," pushes his luck in "Nicholas Nickleby." An all-star cast can't save this bland, bloated film. Charlie Hunnam stars as Nicholas Nickleby. He's blond, pretty, and earnest, but he has all the charm of a doorknob. And that's a problem, given the fact that he is the story's hero. McGrath's streamlined adaptation of the Dickens classic is a straight contest of good vs. evil: the virtuous Nickelby siblings (unknown actress Romola Garai is a more compelling character as virtuous sister Kate) go against wicked uncle Ralph Nickelby (Christopher Plummer) and his evil entourage, including the abusive school master Wackford Squeers (Jim Broadbent) who poisons students to save on food costs. Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming, Dame Edna, Jamie Bell, and Anne Hathaway are some other celebrity names in "Nicholas Nickelby." Alan Cumming is especially wasted in his small role. He does a little dance and not much else. There is never any question, of course, over who will prevail in the
battle of good vs. evil. The theme music swells. The landscapes are lovely.
The running time of 108 felt very, very long. |
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