Vincent Crummles: Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.

It is such a shame "Nicholas Nickleby" never got the right marketing given to it by United Artists, because this truly is one heck of a good film; it is such a shame I had to look hard for this film, and watch it on cable on the Sundance channel, a channel I wasn't able to get until recently. I couldn't find this in my local video store, nor in my library either, why is that?

I'd heard very good things about this film, and anxiously awaited the first chance I could get to watch this, and I was so happy I did. Why did a film with such possibilities, such an excellent story, such an excellent cast of genuine distinguished actors, and such a handsome leading man have little to no life in the box-office while films like "Bad Boys 2" makes it to number one? I'll never be able to understand why studios aren't willing to put a little more force in their advertising in their more intelligent films.

This can appeal to teenagers because the cast is mostly devised of teenage actors, and it will appeal to literary buffs, and it will appeal to families, so why didn't we see more of it?
I'm always looking for original films, and this is as original as it gets and it's filling and never overly sophisticated.

Nicholas Nickleby is a coming of age tale, it's a coming of life tale; this entertaining epic story based on the novel by Charles Dickens, the man who brought us "David Copperfield", "Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carol", and "A Tale of Two Cities" tells the story of a young boy named Nicholas Nickleby, a boy raised by his kind father and mother in a cottage living a humble life in a field, his sister is Kate is then brought into the world, but his father suddenly dies. Being the only source of income, Nicholas, now a young man, is forced to
become the head of his household looking over his mother and little sister and keep them together.

They head into the local town in London together desperately seeking help and go to their uncle Ralph, an aristocrat at the head of the high class of society who greets them with less
than open arms and treats them more as a nuisance, but destitute, Nicholas begs of his uncle who refuses to help them and gives them jobs inevitably. Taking an instant disliking to Nicholas' strength, courage, and basic good heart, Nicholas now has no choice but to be shipped off to a local boys school thanks to uncle Ralph and is hired to become a staff member alongside an evil cruel family who is led by the one eyed Wackford Squeers played by the unforgettable Jim Broadbent.

Meanwhile, Nicholas' young sister Kate played by Romola Garai is merely used by the uncle as a cruel device used to lure and bribe investors while he demeans and belittles her callously. Nicholas begins to bear witness to the cruel family of the Squeers who force feed the orphans an elixir to spoil their appetites saving them money on food, put them in boxes to be used as beds in horrible conditions and thrash them every time a boy asks a simple question.

Nicholas being strong-willed, witnesses the abuse taking place and forms a friendship with the school worker, the crippled orphan Smike (Jamie Bell: Billy Elliot, Close & True) who is abused, insulted and worked to the bone. The two form an instant bond with one another and become best of friends but Nicholas upset by the abuse and unwilling to ignore the abuse helps Smike run away but when he is caught by Wackford's equally cruel wife Mrs. Squeers played by Juliette Stevenson, they're more than willing to make him pay. They hang Smike by his arms and legs and begin thrashing him until Nicholas speaks and stands
up for him attacking Wackford and running away with Smike.

The two now journey across the English countryside coming across many oddities while Nicholas' sister is being groped and hounded by Uncle Ralph's associates who intend on courting Kate. Now Nicholas returns with Smike and intends on battling Uncle Ralph (who declares the strong Nicholas as an official enemy) in a fierce war of wills, tricks, and deceit while Nicholas attempts to court the doey-eyed beautiful peasant girl Madeline Bray (Anne Hathaway: Ella Enchanted, The Princess Diaries) whom he's fallen head over heels in love with and becomes an unwilling pawn in their battle.

I'm stunned at how audiences will never get to see how great this film is, because this is truly an Oscar-worthy film that went horribly unnoticed. Nicholas Nickleby is an excellent character Dickens created. Nickleby the unwilling hero of the story is given a large task
of taking control of his family despite the fact of his young age and must become a man through some extraordinary situations. Charlie Hunnam whom I've seen in the underrated "Undeclared" and the muddled "Abandon" is great as Nicholas, the strong-willed, courageous, outspoken and humble hero who becomes a truly admirable savior to many of the characters.

Hunnam whose ability I've doubted in his recent roles is great as Nickleby giving him a sense of power and courage and injecting a lot of likable traits in him. He's a great character and a very memorable hero of the Dickens' stories and for some reason his cruel uncle Ralph takes an instant disliking to him. He sees in him everything he's not. Ralph is a cruel, arrogant, aristocrat aided by his disloyal servant Newman Noggs played by Tom Courtenay who mocks him every times Ralph barks an order at him, and Nicholas seems to have what Ralph doesn't have, a sense of courage, a sense of honor, and the willingness to face anything that comes his way, though we do get a sense of his humanity, as whenever he's at a time of weakness he asks for help from his father's spirit begging that he help him, scenes that are often sad.

"Nickleby" is not considered one of Dickens' classics but regardless it does have his usual formula of a young hero experiencing an array of cruel wicked villains, it's a very Capra-esque story, and a very likable one. The cast of very talented actors give great performances most notably that of Christopher Plummer who is excellent and despicable as the intimidating Uncle Ralph who dislikes his family despite being alone in the world, Plummer is very good in his role mostly staying immersed in the dark plotting his next revenge plan on Nickleby.

Jim Broadbent and Juliet Stevenson are great as the wicked Squeers' family who take delight in torturing young boys in the school and have spoiled children including two daughters, one of whom attempts to court Nickleby with little success. Nickleby finds the most surprising allies in Noggs, and the fiancé to the Wackford's oldest daughter, who is more than happy to help Nickleby and upstage Squeers, and Smike, a very likable assistant and friend to Nickleby who is welcomed with open arms by the Nickleby family and becomes smitten by his sister Kate, and then there are the Crummles, the very odd traveling theater group led by the eccentric couple Vincent Crummles played the very good Nathan Lane and Mrs. Crummles played by the hilarious Barry Humphries, both whom welcome Nickleby and Smike and hire them in their group marketing on Nickleby's looks having him play Romeo in a low-budget
production in Romeo and Juliet while they also manage to find talent in Smike as well instilling a sense of confidence within him.

Though their intentions are well-meaning and while they're pure of heart, their stage group is not top notch but nonetheless we appreciate their heart and their willingness to parent these two boys and become their friends. Their roles in the story are somewhat small but still manage to become immensely memorable. Director Douglas McGrath creates the perfect image of the nineteenth century London with beautiful costumes, grim, and sometimes beautiful scenery, and great direction that helps to establish the story, and there manages to become some truly memorable sequences including when Nickleby returns to London to stand up to an aristocrat that attacks his sister, where Nickleby attacks Squeers and when he attempts to save Smike after being kidnapped which is not only a very tense moment but is also very funny.

With that, the story is just so engrossing as we watch the array of lovable characters and despicable characters we just love to hate, within that is the story of a young man who refuses to stand down from his uncle despite the immense power he has which makes way for a surprise ending that makes this film worth the time spent.

Late in the story, we're introduced to Madeline Bray, a character who seems to just be plopped in the middle of the chaos of the story. I'd heard that there is a nine hour version of the film in the past incarnations, and maybe with those extended time periods of
films her entering into the story would have made a lot more sense, but alas Anne Hathaway is just dropped into the story without any real introduction. Hathaway fails to sell her appearance as a period character; her clean cut, wholesome, Long Island appearance
works against her in the film because never does she look as if she fits into the period of the time in London, nor is her accent ever really believable.

Bray is barely ever focused on and we're supposed to believe Nickleby is madly in love with her when we're barely given a good introduction of her. Then she plays a large part late in the story being used as an unwilling pawn in the fight against Ralph and Nicholas but we're barely given a glimpse into her life, her back story, or her personality so it all just feels so forced. There's no journey into her heart, no glimpse or obstacles in Nickleby's love and pursuit for her, it just happens and it feels so simple and lazy, so ultimately Hathaway is least memorable.

What a shame a film like this will never be viewed by the people it rightly deserves to be shown to: young audiences. While shallow empty films get pushed out into the box-office, this entertaining, engrossing, well acted, well-directed film will never be seen by teenagers. With themes like family, child abuse, courage, and coming of age, and just wholesome fun, people will enjoy this, as I did.

 

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