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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

A Twist of fate

Only heightened reality possesses the spark to ignite our imaginations, and Roman Polanski’s “Oliver Twist” (Sony Pictures) certainly delves into that often-neglected recess of our minds.

This adaptation holds true to Charles Dickens’ original novel in every aspect. Oliver Twist, played by newcomer Barney Clark, is a street urchin who joins a band of pickpockets led by Fagin (Ben Kingsley, “House of Sand and Fog”). The intricate detail, the robust characters, and the pristine blending of comedy with the harsh realities of nineteenth century London all stay true to Dickens’ classic.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of Polanski, however, is his ability capture the entirety of the film through the eyes of a child. Through innovative camera techniques and a keen sense of what shakes the root of a child, the director plunges the audience directly into the tale, allowing them to view every moment with the same bewilderment as Oliver himself.

Through this method, familiarity with the classic story is completely forgotten, letting even the most monotonous phrases like, “Please sir, I want some more,” play out in a vividly captivating tension that causes the audience to hold its breath, wide-eyed with anticipation for what the answer might be.

It is especially ironic that the stark reality and underplayed emotion that made Polanski’s “The Pianist” so eerily managing to still seep through his colorful version of realism in “Oliver Twist.”

In one instance, a lengthy journey from the posh downtown area to the abysmal slums of the city is juxtaposed with an artful display by Fagin and his band of pickpockets acting out the technicalities of their daily trade in what one might consider an eclectic dance. Moments like this give the film a firm grounding, permitting the playful complements to appear magical, just as Dickens’ novel has done for over a century. In addition, Kingsley’s portrayal of the infamous Fagin is something of magic itself. He disappears into illusion, delivering what might be considered one of the best character performances in years.

Movies are often advertised as, “fun for the whole family.” What this usually means is that a conscious effort was made to throw in so much adult humor that the film maintains the parents’ attention, while rendering the movie virtually meaningless to children. “Oliver Twist” does neither, rather depending on its luscious story and engaging visuals to entrance audiences of all ages. The film is both entertaining and intelligent, and can’t help but be fun for just about everyone.

Roman Polanski’s “Oliver Twist” opens in theaters nationwide on September 30th.

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