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Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark, Jamie Foreman, Harry Eden, Leanne Rowe ... see more see more... , Edward Hardwicke , Ian McNeice , Mark Strong , Jeremy Swift , Frances Cuka , Michael Heath , Gillian Hanna , Alun Armstrong , Andrew dela Tour , Peter Copley , Liz Smith , Lewis Chase , Chris Overton

Director Roman Polanski gives one of Charles Dickens' best-loved stories a new and dynamic interpretation in this period drama. Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) is a young orphan in Victorian England who h... read more read more...as been sent to a dank workhouse run by the miserly Mr. Bumble (Jeremy Swift) when it is learned there is no one to care for him. When Oliver dares to ask for more gruel, he is sent away to live with an undertaker, who treats him poorly. Preferring life on the streets to the treatment he's been receiving, Oliver runs away to London, where he falls in with the Artful Dodger (Harry Eden), a youthful pickpocket. The Artful Dodger is one of a gang of young thieves overseen by Fagin (Ben Kingsley), a paternal but sinister criminal mastermind. While Oliver finds a home of sorts with Fagin and his young cohorts, he also falls into a dangerous life made all the more threatening by the presence of Fagin's menacing overlord, Bill Sykes (Jamie Foreman). Oliver Twist was Polanski's first feature film after enjoying a major career resurgence following the international success of his Oscar-winning World War II drama The Pianist. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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63% liked it

22,280 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

137 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Roman Polanski

Release Date: September 30, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 24, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (942)

  • 76Majikat
    November 23, 2010
    76Majikat
    As with any remake or additional adaption of a Classic Book such as Oliver Twist, it's a given that this will inevitably be compared to the greatest known version, in this case it's the 1968 Musical version by Carol Reed known as Oliver!

    It has to be said that the Actors had n... read moreothing on most of the originals and whilst Ben Kingsley truly made this part his own and did a great job, there truly is only one Fagin (Ron Moody). Jamie Foreman wasn't a match for the great Olly Reed and as for the Artful Dodger, Jack Wilder is a tough act to follow. Leanne Rowe however, I felt played a great Nancy and did impress me, possibly because it was played very differently to Shani Wallace and seemed well acted.

    I'm sure this version is much more suited to the original Charles Dickens Classic and of course there were things in this updated version, such as filming etc, that gave this a much more intimidating London than it appeared in the Musical version.

    Directed by Polanski, I'm not quite sure if this really had the Polanski stamp on it, I'm used to much more escalating horror/Thrillers from the Director.

    Just one thing! There is no mention in this version of Oliver being related to Mr Brownlow, or was this something added to the Musical version?

    All in all a good adaption of the tale, just not as memorable as the Musical version.
  • shauna1354
    February 7, 2010
    shauna1354
    Being opposed to any Oliver! musicals, I found Roman Polanski's gritty re-telling of the beloved Dickens tale very enjoyable. Oliver Twist offers a realistic vision of Victorian-era England, engagaing story-telling and a fantastic cast. Polanski's skillful direction transforms th... read moree well-known story into a dark and absorbing tale that faithfully reflects Dicken's novel. Ben Kingsley is well-suited and gives an enjoyable performance as Fagin, Jamie Foreman gives a fearful portrayal as the books' baddie Bill Sikes, Barney Clark is tremendous as the pitiable title character that gives warmth and hope to the dark tale.
    If you're a die-hard fan of the musical then you probably won't enjoy but if you're a film lover who can appreciate a legendary film-maker's audacious re-telling then sit back and enjoy.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 19, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    A great Movie based upon Charles Dickens Novel.
  • CloudStrife84
    June 28, 2009
    CloudStrife84
    Good adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novel. Some of the settings are really gritty and filthy, as it should be considering where and when the story takes place. In fact, they have such an authentic and palpable feel to them, that you can almost smell what you see on scree... read moren. The best thing about the film though, is undoubtedly its characters. Like the old man Fagin for instance, superbly played by a near-unrecognizable Ben Kingsley. Another display of great acting comes from the virtually unknown Barney Clark (Oliver Twist that is), who as he went through one ordeal after the next, evoked a lot of sympathy from me as a viewer. The end result is an enjoyable watch, and some of the best work I've seen by director Roman Polanski.
  • Screeny
    December 20, 2008
    Screeny
    This movie is called "Oliver Twist", im sure you've all heard of it. There's been about three versions of the movie, including a musical version. This version is the newest, it came out in 2005 and its a really dark movie. Which is a good thing in my movie book. I always loved da... read morerk movies. Like the Harry Potter movies, they get darker and darker each time, Twilight, that was a dark movie. Fight Club was a DARK movie definatly. I could go on and on naming amazing movies that are dark. I'm sure Vampire 2000 likes dark movies as we'll considering his favorie movie is "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Stree" and he enjoys horror movies that have Vampires. I'm sure everyone likes a dark movie. The Crypkeeper liking "American Pyhsco", thats a dark movie. Everyone likes dark movies. I'm sure you readers are just realizing that arent yea. Everyone loves that dark movie. This movie is dark, which is exactly why i liked this movie. Your probably saying to yourself, how is THIS a dark movie. We'll it is. The older version and the musical version were not as dark as this one. The other ones were more kidish than young adlult and adultish like this one. I mean this one has the violence and darkness in the characters that make you grip on your seat, other than scary man jumping into a stupid song like the older version. I'm probably boring you all with this "Why the movie is dark" paragraph arent i? Moving on.

    The story in the movie is very interesting. The movie is set back in the Industrial Revolution. The time period were inventions were made with hands to making things with machines. The time were children worked in terrible factory conditions to make money for there family's shelter. That time period. Oliver Twist is the main character of the story, obviously from the title, he is an orphan boy who starts a adventure by getting his way out from the evil Mr. Bumbles' life to living in London City were he meets Fagin and The Dodger. He learns to pick-pocket and how to live in the city. But when, Oliver ends up living with a rich man, Fagin and his gang must get Oliver before he says the wrong words. Its a pretty dark gripping story, but i'm sure you all know the story of Oliver Twist. I liked the plot of the movie because it tells a incredible adventure of a ten year old boy and how he keeps himself alive in London during a very rough time, the Industrial Revolution.

    The acting in this movie was quite good, whoever played Oliver Twist did a great job playing the character who has been a story hero for decades and decades. I was really amazed with whoever played Fagin. He was scary, creepy, funny, evil, and even dramatic in a weird way. lol. Fagin was a great role that i was really interested in. Whoever played Fagin, you deserve a round of applause. [Clap! Clap! Clap!]. Whoever played Mr. Bumble was really bad though, he was too still and really boring. He just didnt bring the evil Mr. Bumble to life like the Mr. Bumble from the older movies and the books. Thats why i gave the acting four stars. Because Mr. Bumble was just way off the line from what he should have been. Sorry whoever played Mr. Bumble, but its not like your reading this. All the other actors and actresses in this movie did a great job, a bravo to all of you. You really brought the amazing story of "Oliver Twist" to life. Good job. Scratch that, Amazing job.

    What i noticed in the movie was the big difference between the rich and the poor. When Oliver was in the orphanage, the adults served all the children white crap, while the adults ate an amazing Turkey dinner that they could have shared with the kids. The rich in the movie treated the poor people like crap. I've noticed all the discounts and such that the rich got and all the respect that they got. That was another issue that was in The Industrial Revoltion and i was amazed to see that they added the "Rich and Poor" story to the movie unlike the other Oliver Twist movies. This movie didnt just pay attention to the Twist story but they paid attention to the Industrial Revolution story. Great job on that.

    In conclusion, this is the Oliver Twist that i call the best of them all. This threw in all the details from the book and everything that the Twist story needed. This is a amazing movie and its dark, compelling, and dramatic that anyone can enjoy. This movie includes amazing acting and a great plot. It also teaches you a few things about the period of the "Industrial Revolution". If you havent seen the 2005 version of Oliver Twist, then rent it. It will NOT dissapoint you. See this now.
  • harrycaul
    June 1, 2008
    harrycaul
    I don't know which fact I find the most astonishing: that somebody thought the world needed yet another adaptation of "Oliver Twist", or that that somebody was Roman Polanski. His version is as respectful as it is respectable, but it's unlikely to captivate anyone already familia... read morer with the story. The digitally tweaked cinematography is not to my taste and, aside from rose-tinting Dickens' abject poverty, the harsh sunlight of the first half suggests that Polanski has been in extradition-wary exile from England so long that he's forgotten our climate! Little more than a puppet for the story's four genuinely interesting characters (Fagin, Bill Sykes, Nancy and the Artful Dodger) to toy with, Oliver is traditionally a thoroughly dull hero, though Barney Clark is especially weak in the role here; the rest of the cast are fine, if unremarkable. If the whole barely satisfies, there are incidental pleasures for the sharp-eyed, such as Oliver's brief, upward glance at the rope from which Bill Sykes will swing as the Dodger ushers him to meet Fagin.
  • pier007
    December 27, 2007
    pier007
    A somewhat flat but correct adaptation of Dicken's classic tale. Ben Kingsley plays an amazing Fagin. but Barney Clark needed to apply more feeling to his performance. Polanski shaped a lighter portrait of victorian England.
  • Redlats
    October 10, 2007
    Redlats
    From what I remember of Charles Dickens book (which I read 40 years ago), this movie is true to the book. The movie is OK, nothing special
  • flickfever
    July 5, 2006
    flickfever
    A better-than-expected adaptation of the classic Dickens novel. Roman Polanski does a great job at bringing new life into this story. Although you may know all about the plot and characters from previous adaptations (nothing much is changed in this version), at least watch this f... read moreilm for the amazing cinematography and art direction.
  • maymayasahan
    April 10, 2012
    maymayasahan
    It has a nice story, as well as the film. Really touching and moving. I loved its dark theme. A real classic.

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Critic Reviews

Ann Hornaday
September 30, 2005
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

It's noble, high-minded and safe, and I can't help thinking that I would have preferred an audacious but honest failure. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
September 30, 2005
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A grounded and unusually matter-of-fact adaptation. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
September 30, 2005
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Poignant and primal, Roman Polanski's splendid adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic pricks the heart and the conscience.

Roger Moore
September 30, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

In Oliver Twist, it's the viewer who is punished. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
September 30, 2005
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Nitpickers may squawk over missing elements, but the film doggedly hits on the book's big themes: the power of innocence, the cruelty of class. Full Review

Tom Long
September 30, 2005
Tom Long, Detroit News

Oliver Twist as presented by Roman Polanski is pretty much the same as Oliver Twist presented by anyone else, except perhaps it's a bit duller.

Terry Lawson
September 30, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

As handsomely made, well-acted, dramatically unflinching and heartfelt as it is, Polanski's Oliver is a movie more admirable than emotionally affecting.

Robert Denerstein
September 30, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Polanski's Oliver proves surprisingly uninspired, taking nearly the entire movie before it belatedly springs to life.

Michael Booth
September 30, 2005
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Polanski could have made Oliver as haunting as his 2002 Academy Award-winning film, The Pianist. Yet his new effort falls just short. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
September 30, 2005
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

The film is worth seeing, but it won't hold a cherished place in your moviegoing memories. Full Review

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