Oliver!
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Movie Reviews of Oliver!
Movie Review: Without a doubt my favorite movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was thrilled to find this on dvd! Growing up in children's institutions in upstate NY, we were taken to see this when it first came out. It had an enormous impact on us. I remember we used to act out as much of the movie as we could remember in the playground. Just like Oliver, we took stong offense to anyone talking about our parents, who many of us did not know. We all fought over who would get to play the artful Dodger. I must have hummed many of these songs to myself hundreds of times over the past 30 years. And now it all comes back : - ) I was one big goose bump re-living all this!
Fagin is the kind of person children cherish and really need in their lives. Ron Moody's Fagin perfectly epitomizes what is most missing in today's culture - empathy! He is someone who takes the time to see the world through the eyes of children. Ron Moody is truly a master of his craft. It is just pure pleasure to watch him play Fagin and listen to him sing so beautifully. Dodger was who we as kids all wanted to be like. An enormously confident and charming kid who holds his own with grown-ups.
Oliver! is a kid friendly movie that happily distances itself from today's endless materialism (agreeing with a previously made point). Oliver is vulnerable but steadfastly defiant, standing up for what is rightly his. It was so easy to see ourselves in his tattered shoes.
Finally, the soundtrack. If you haven't done this, buy it. Take it with you where ever you drive and bath yourself in these happy tunes. I love nothing more than speeding off to work in the morning to Fagin's "In this life, one thing counts, in the bank large amounts..." : - ))) The cd is full of these memorable and uplifting songs.
Without a doubt my favorite movie!
Movie Review: Considerably better than it's modern reputation
Summary: 5 Stars
Carol Reed's screen version of Lionel Bart's musical version of Oliver Twist seems to fall into the love it or hate it category. Many find stodgy and drawn-out and even its admirers have to admit it is not without its faults. Some of the frenetic moments are not best timed and at times the performances are pitched more for the theatre than for the screen. Nonetheless, it is one of the very few successful British musicals and as such has much to recommend it.
Among a colourful cast, Harry Secombe's Mr Bumble is right out of Dickens' pages while Ron Moody's Fagin and Jack Wild's Artful Dodger are an engaging pair. As Bill Sykes, Oliver Reed makes a (by his standards) restrained and effective villain - his first appearance is a marvellously handled moment. If his uncle's direction is sometimes uncertain, the production values are sumptuous, with John Box's intricately haphazard sets and Phyllis Dalton's intelligently designed costumes coming over particularly well.
Bart's score is unusually strong and Onna White's choreography, while not without its tired and contrived moments, is considerably more energetic and enjoyable than is the norm for these shores. Indeed, Consider Yourself, which seems to call upon the entire city of London, is an outstandingly staged number by any standards. With the exception of some ill-advised string work on As Long As He Needs Me that sounds more South Seas than South London, Johnny Green's orchestrations are for the most part fine.
With Reed and cinematographer Oswald Morris both show a good eye for the Scope frame, although the colour somewhat muted - it's a feature of Morris' work that the original colours were deliberately graded to reflect colour prints from the Victorian era.
Movie Review: Dancing Dickens
Summary: 5 Stars
I have no idea who read the dark, sad tale of Oliver Twist, and thought "Why, this would make a great lighthearted musical full of precious scamps and good natured bad guys." Whoever that person was, I thank them, because the same thought would have never occurred to me."Oliver!" is that most Hollywood of Hollywood musicals. It is a formal stage adaptation, with little attempt to make the musical scenes natural such as in "Fiddler on the Roof" or even "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." The cast breaks out into song with abandon, and dances with joy. Several of the numbers are tops, such as "Consider Yourself..." and "I'd Do Anything." Several are mediocre, but still do the trick. Oliver's voice is a little funny, as it was actually dubbed by a young girl to achieve an "innocent" effect. The Dodger and Fagin are the real stars, getting all of the best lines and songs.
The story adaptation choices are interesting, removing almost all of the brutal elements of the story, as well as Monks and the convoluted nature of Oliver's origin. Fagin and The Artful Dodger are not only allowed to survive the adventure, as opposed to swinging from the gallows, but they make their merry way into the streets of London. What is left of the plot is still Oliver Twist, and makes a fine basis for the story. Bill Sikes is still Bill Sikes, and Nancy is still Nancy, with all that that entails
Movie Review: The perfect musical
Summary: 5 Stars
"Oliver!" is the musical version of Dickens' tale about an orphan in Olde England. Oliver is born in a miserable workhouse and eventually taken in by an old thief and his merry band of boys who train him to be a pick-pocket. He meets some memorable characters along the way: Ron Moody plays the infamous Fagin, the leader of the thieves, with sinister delight. Jack Wild (the Artful Dodger) steals all his scenes with his talent and charm. Mark Lester, as Oliver, is a little wooden but looks the part and is appealing. Oliver Reed is convincingly repellant as nasty villain Bill Sikes, and Shani Wallis is good as his girlfriend, Nancy, the street girl with a heart of gold.
Lionel Bart's music for "Oliver!" is absolutely enchanting. Each song is memorable and the big production numbers are a joy to behold. As the Artful Dodger welcomes Oliver to London with "Consider Yourself," and the street vendors sing the beautiful, "Who Will Buy?", you are swept away into a magical world. "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" and "Reviewing the Situation" are Fagin's comic numbers that make you like him in spite of himself. "Oliver!" won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1968. Heartily recommended for the whole family.
Kona
Movie Review: I've Never Forgotten this Musical!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this musical when I was just a kid - about 25 years ago now - and I have NEVER forgotten its' story line, or the great musical numbers it displayed.
In my opinion, this is probably one of the last great musicals ever produced (although I also loved Annie!) - and, I must say that I honestly wish musicals had never gone "out of style", I miss their great scores, voices & dances.
"Oliver!" is about a young orphan who is forced to take to the streets in order to find food & drink. He's befriended by a pick-pocketer who attempts to show Oliver the ropes - but of course he's just using this young, impressionable boy. But, even so, this master pick-pocketer is lovable (in his own way).
Will Oliver ever find a family who loves him? One who he loves as well? These questions will be answered masterfully in the movie.
This is one of those great movies that can be enjoyed by the whole family! Soon both the kids & adults will be singing along to the great tunes!
Overall, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys musicals - or even those who don't know what a musical is. Who knows, it may become one of your favorites too...