What a beautiful BBC adaption of one of Charles Dickens' greatest novels, 1200 pages whittled down to three hours as opposed to two for the 1935 classic and 1970 British remake. Daniel Radcliffe, already having acted, is beautifully cast as young David, raised by a loving mother (Emilia Fox), perhaps a bit too fragile, and given equal love by Pauline Quirke's maid Peggoty. Everything's sweet and lovely, only briefly, as his mother marries the cruel Mr. Murdstone (Trevor Eve, coldly sinister and manipulative), with Zoe Wanamaker even more so as his dour sister. He is sent off to boarding school with the administration and teachers so out of touch that they shouldn't be teaching anyone, their monstrous looks a metaphor for their even more monstrous demeanors. The cruelty is even worse for him when he is sent to London to work in a factory, an example of child slave labor at its most while.
And then there's the irrepressible Aunt Betsy Trotwood played with gusto by the legendary Maggie Smith who is in the first few minutes but leaves as soon as David is born, hating the fact that he wasn't a she. Their reunion later on changes that. Bob Hoskins is an additional blast of energetic light as Mr. Micawber, with Imelda Staunton as his long suffering wife. The mix of humor with the darkness of evil presented by the Murdstones and other supporting characters really gives atmosphere to this perfectly filmed adaption, and every character seems to have a purpose, a sense of truth in how they are presented and even the most neurotic ones (the Murdstones not included) have wonderful hearts filled with much more than just gold. This first part really makes you familiar with all of these people, hissing at a few but wanting to give the majority of them a big hug.
And then there's the irrepressible Aunt Betsy Trotwood played with gusto by the legendary Maggie Smith who is in the first few minutes but leaves as soon as David is born, hating the fact that he wasn't a she. Their reunion later on changes that. Bob Hoskins is an additional blast of energetic light as Mr. Micawber, with Imelda Staunton as his long suffering wife. The mix of humor with the darkness of evil presented by the Murdstones and other supporting characters really gives atmosphere to this perfectly filmed adaption, and every character seems to have a purpose, a sense of truth in how they are presented and even the most neurotic ones (the Murdstones not included) have wonderful hearts filled with much more than just gold. This first part really makes you familiar with all of these people, hissing at a few but wanting to give the majority of them a big hug.
