After viewing the 1999 version of that classic 'A Christmas Carol' featuring Patrick Stewart, I was intrigued by 'Nicholas Nickleby.' After struggling to acquire the drama, I simply watched it online, and my goodness, the price of the broadband bill was worth it! The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is a slow and methodical journey, filled with wonderful characters and compelling drama at every turn. The tale is that of the Nicklebys, a family plunged into poverty after the death of their patriarch and forced to live with his cruel brother Ralph, a scheming businessman intent on destroying the lives of his new charges. Sending his nephew to Dotheboys Hall, a foul boarding 'school' for young boys abandoned by their families, he encounters the vulgar Squeers family and the timid, pitiful 18 year-old Smike, a drudge often mistreated by his abusive 'carers'. Leaving the horrid place after saving his new companion, the drama follows the misadventures and trials of the pair, including love, loss, grief and sorrow, all bound together by a strong narrative and an excellent cast.
James D'Arcy stands out as the emotive and kind Nicholas, as does Charles Dance as his wicked and corrupt uncle. However, most impressive is Lee Ingleby as Smike, a "wretched creature" as Dickens so aptly described him, who is quiet and skittish due to his lifetime of hardship.
All in all, I truly enjoyed this adaptation- intelligent, dramatic and excellently made. I do have one complaint though- the music. As others have mentioned, it has a tendency to drown out the dialogue, so much so that I found myself laughing during one of the most serious sequences in the drama.
That aside, this is an excellent, albeit short, rendition of the Dickens classic. Wonderful!
James D'Arcy stands out as the emotive and kind Nicholas, as does Charles Dance as his wicked and corrupt uncle. However, most impressive is Lee Ingleby as Smike, a "wretched creature" as Dickens so aptly described him, who is quiet and skittish due to his lifetime of hardship.
All in all, I truly enjoyed this adaptation- intelligent, dramatic and excellently made. I do have one complaint though- the music. As others have mentioned, it has a tendency to drown out the dialogue, so much so that I found myself laughing during one of the most serious sequences in the drama.
That aside, this is an excellent, albeit short, rendition of the Dickens classic. Wonderful!