It's the centenary year of famed author Charles Dickens and he's having a bit of a moment. The writer was dipped into the world of fanboys when Christopher Nolan revealed during press rounds for "The Dark Knight Rises" that "A Tale Of Two Cities" was an influence on the Batman film, while it seems filmmakers are falling over themselves to bring "Great Expectations" to the big screen. Again. Last year, Brit viewers got a miniseries starring Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson, and now, less than twelve months later, another take on the story is on the way.
Directed by Mike Newell and boasting a pretty solid cast of Ralph Fiennes (who, it should be noted, spent part of the year directing and playing the author himself in "The Invisible Woman"), Helena Bonham Carter, Jeremy Irvine and Holliday Grainger, can this one stand above the countless adaptations that have come before? Here's the official synopsis: Orphan Pip rises from humble beginnings thanks to a mysterious benefactor. Moving through London’s class-ridden world as a gentleman, Pip uses his new status to pursue Estella, a beautiful, heartless heiress he’s always loved. The shocking truth behind his fortune will have devastating consequences for everything he holds dear.
The film will make its World Premiere at TIFF next month, and no distributors have signed on just yet. And oh yeah, if that's still not enough Dickens for you, also unspooling in Toronto will be "Mr. Pip," a drama about a man who brings together the children of an island community during wartime by reading….you guessed it…."Great Expectations."
