Oliver Twist (2005, GBR/FRA/ITA/CZE) C-130m. SCOPE **½ D: Roman Polanski. Starring Ben Kingsley, Jamie Foreman, Barney Clark, Harry Eden, Leanne Rowe, Edward Hardwicke, Mark Strong. Somewhat disappointing adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic takes us into Victorian England, where orphan Clark (the title character) runs away to London, where he is taken up by nefarious Kingsley, who has trained some children as pickpockets. Script by Ronald Harwood never once manages to compell or engross you, what you're left with is fine production design and cinematography; too little to make this a satisfying view.


© Ron Altman