Reviews (195)

An all-around superb film
For some reason, people who see this movie either completely adore it or completely despise it. I will never understand those who despise it, because Emma is one of the most well-made movies I have seen. The entire cast is wonderful, with almost all of the actors accurately portraying the characters from Jane Austen's novel (which I believe everyone must read before they can fairly judge this movie). The score was excellent (apparently the Academy agreed) and the costumes were beautiful. Considering that Austen's novel is more than 400 pages long, I would have to say that the director did a fabulous job of turning it into a two hour movie. Gwyneth Paltrow is the exact Emma I envisioned when I read the novel for the first time, and Jeremy Northam is absolutely adorable as Mr. Knightley. The humor is subtle, but that is characteristic of most of Austen's novels. Despite the quality of this film, it's probably not for everyone. The language may be hard for some to take for two hours, and it is a period piece, which not everyone enjoys. However, I would still recommend this movie to anyone.

Brilliant in so many ways
Being a die-hard Austen fan, I couldn't resist watching this movie. Emma Woodhouse's story has always been my favorite of
Austen's efforts, and I am always glad to see her work brought to the screen. I was VERY pleased with this film.

Casting was well done. Northam provides a sturdy, but not overly-stern, Knightley, and Paltrow does an amazing job of convincing us that she is, indeed, British in her portrayal of Emma. Her accent is nearly flawless, and I felt that she truly captured the personality of Austen's most spoiled heroine. The sets and lighting are bright, airy, and perfectly suited to the comedic approach taken by this particular director. The scenes are edited just brilliantly. Each scene flows seamlessly from one to another, and the pace of the plot runs along just perfectly. It moves fast enough to keep everyone interested and slowly enough to make sure that everyone has enough time to absorb what's going on.

The criticism I've heard most often is that the film really only touches on the Jane Fairfax/Frank Churchill subplot for the briefest of moments. I did not find that to be injurious to the film. It's plain, while watching this version, that the director wanted to keep the story light and funny. Adding Jane and Frank's saga would have done two things: First, it would have seriously darkened and dramatized the bouncy and bright atmosphere of the entire film. Second, it would have taken the spotlight off of Emma Woodhouse as the focus of the story. I felt that, given the abbreviated length of time that a movie has in which to communicate a story...the omission of Frank & Jane's affair was a wise choice.

The second criticism I've heard of the film is that it's just too clean and "pretty" to be accurately representative of Regency England. Again...this didn't bother me. The focus of this film is NOT to be true to history. It is not a Regency documentary. It is a fun and aesthetically pleasing depiction of Emma Woodhouse and her friends. It's romantic, funny, charming, and very very pretty to look at.

I loved it.

Misguided, but somehow pleasing.
There's no reason this should work as well as it does. This is a very broad adaptation and the performances in general are unsubtle and broad as well. Ms. Paltrow's accent is heinous, and Ms. Collette's work is frankly annoying (though that is in part as written.) As the movie moves from set piece to set piece, lingering endlessly on the beautiful design, one can't help but think that if Ms. Austen's Emma had actually had so much to do, she'd have been little bored enough to spend so much time meddling in her friends' affairs. But in the end, the good will evinced by all involved somehow makes a film that charms very much in spite of several and severe flaws. The BBC version of Emma is much superior in adherence to the Austen story, and Clueless certainly has the edge for humor, but this is a fair adaptation that ultimately is more success than failure.

Love this movie!
Beautiful people, clothes, quirky characters and a flawed Emma make this movie enjoyable time after time. There aren't a lot of movies I can watch multiple times, but this is one I always enjoy!

Paltrow and Northam light up the screen!
Whether you've read the novel or not, this movie adaptation is enjoyable to watch. The characters are so vividly brought to life that it's impossible not to feel their joys and their sorrows. Paltrow is adorable as the young Emma and her scenes with Mr. Knightly (Jeremy Northam) spark with romantic chemistry. Mr. Knightly comes off as charming and very handsome thanks to Northam's own charm and classy good looks. Miss Bates makes you laugh but at the same time, she breaks your heart. Great sets, scenery, and acting by entire cast. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

"The very definition of goodness."
I can honestly say that "Nicholas Nickleby" is my favorite of Dickens' works. His sinister villain, his earnest, upright, innocent hero, and the beautiful Kate and their plight for financial independence from their evil uncle Ralph have the foundation of a classic. I've seen several adaptations, including the more faithful Bravo version, but I like this one the best. I believe Douglas McGrath, who tastefully brought "Emma" to the silver screen, has taken an already impressive work and improved on it. The movie moves at a nice pace without becoming drenched in melodrama or lingering over the "darker" side of the story; but neither does it shy away from the meaner aspects of Dickens' characters. Uncle Ralph, if possible, is even more wicked than Dickens wrote him. It does this in a perfectly tasteful and intelligent manner and also incorporates much if the sardonic humor found in the books, something I've found the Bravo adaptation lacks.

In case you're unfamiliar with the story, the film revolves around the life of young Nicholas Nickleby and his sister Kate. Their father has died, leaving them in the hands of his older and much more financially-minded brother Ralph. Desiring to be rid of Nicholas, Ralph seeks him employment with Wackford Squeers, the owner of a boys' school in the north country. The institution puts on a good public face but is in reality a squalor where the boys are mistreated and abused while Squeers and his wife pocket what little income they can provide. While attempting to teach at this "school," Nicholas meets the crippled Smike, an orphan whom the Squeers keep on out of "the goodness of their hearts." Eventually his friendship with Smike will have a vast impact on not only his life, but that of his uncle Ralph as well.

The casting for this film is nothing short of exquisite. Douglas McGrath isn't afraid to cast British actor but American-unknown Charlie Hunnam in the lead. The young actor has a fluid intelligence in his performance and looks ideal in a period setting. Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") plays his love interest, and "Daniel Deronda's" Romola Garai is a beautiful and sweet Kate Nickleby. Throw in Christopher Plummer (whose snarling Uncle Ralph should have won an Oscar), Nicholas Rowe, Edward Fox, Jamie Bell, Nathan Lane, and Alan Cumming, and you have a well-rounded, top-notch cast. The roles are all performed with intelligence and insight, the costuming is lovely, and the script never lags.

From a family -- and indeed a Christian perspective -- I'm happy to report that McGrath's screenplay maintains the height of decency. Even when dealing with tedious and "offensive" elements, such as Sir Mulberry Hawke's pursuit of Kate, the film does its best to present the scenario in a way which won't offend mainstream audiences. There are some intense scenes at the Squeers' school, where children are flogged, but these scenes are kept to a minimum and never overly graphic. I particularly enjoyed seeing Nicholas defend the honor of Smike, Madeline, and his sister Kate. For those who haven't read the novel, the story ends with a surprising twist with little clues planted along the way to point you toward the truth. For those who do know the ending, it's handled beautifully and has great screen impact.

I was fortunate enough to see this on the big screen in a little theatre in the heart of the city while others were flocking to much bigger and less enthusiastic releases. I've looked forward to owning the DVD for a long time.

Nicely done........but the James D'Arcy version is better.
This is a nice effort by director Douglas McGrath, who also brought us the excellent film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma."

It has light and airy feel to it with lovely and talented stars, beautiful cinematography and a partly comedic and partly dramatic treatment to Charles Dickens' story. Big kudos would go to the talented cast composed of Charlie Hunnam, Christopher Plummer, Anne Hathaway, Romola Garai, Juliet Stevenson and Jamie Bell.

There are, however, some notable shortcomings. Having seen the 2001 tv version ("The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby") starring James D'Arcy (which is also available on DVD), I feel that this adaptation pales in comparison. For one, Charlie Hunnam (as Nicholas) feels a little out of place in this period piece. He just has such a modern look that he seems slightly awkward in this Victorian tale. James D'Arcy, on the other hand, seems natural to play Nicholas. He has that intensity and earnestness that makes you want to root for him from the start (and he is beautiful to watch, too). Christopher Plummer is always good in everything he does but to my eyes he pales in comparison to Charles Dance's excellent portrayal of Ralph Nickleby. Mr. Plummer's Ralph is mean spirited and cranky while Mr. Dance gives a more chilling and believable portrayal as Nicholas' greedy, heartless uncle.

Another problem is the time constraints between film vs. tv. Clearly this version feels fairly rushed. I like to think of it as the "Cliff's Notes" version. There is little time to deal with character development and certain characters (such as the eccentric Mantalinis and the scheming Arthur Gride) and plot lines were lopped off. The tv version has the advantage of being able to stay more faithful to the story and introduce us to a colorful range of characters that makes for a richer adaptation.

I enjoyed this version of Nicholas Nickleby. It is well worth renting on dvd. However, if I had a choice between this or the tv version, I would far prefer seeing the tall, handsome and talented James D'Arcy (who will soon be seen in Russell Crowe's "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World") play Nicholas over Charlie Hunnam. In short, this is nice to watch once in awhile but the 2001 tv version is the one I prefer to keep in my dvd library and watch again and again.

i was surprized
that this was a great movie! During the first part I didnt know if I could continue watching or not because of the abuse that was going on, i just cant imagine... but then it took a turn for the better. As soon as nicholas stood up for a boy being abused I was hooked. The rest of the movie followed suit. He was a man of honor and goodness. He wasnt afraid to stand up for whats right even though he had his share and more of evil people and peril. I felt it was a tad rushed tho. They could have spent more time with the actors they ran into and also getting to know the girl he came to love. seemed it happened awful fast before they even knew eachother. I also havent read the book so i cant compare, but i still think it was a wonderful movie.

An Amazingly Good Period Film.
Upfront, I have never read the Charles Dickens novel, but something made me pick this film adaptation of the story up and buy it. If you're a fan of period films based on mostly classic novels, you should definitely enjoy this movie.

This is the story of a young man with great integrity who, after his father's death, has to struggle to keep his family together despite his corrupt uncle's intentions to keep him, his mother and sister apart. First he's got to take employment at a boys' school where the cruel headmaster and his wife abuse the boys constantly, but are particularly cruel to a cripple named Smike. Nicholas befriends Smike and learns to make him an extended part of his family, joins a theater group full of delightfully colorful and humorous people, and he falls in love with a girl who comes from a bad family situation.

One can easily see the moral of the story Dickens had penned portrayed here: Nicholas Nickleby is an admirable and noble character who, despite all the dark and evil people he and his family are surrounded by, perseveres with his integrity fully intact, and accepts people from low society with hearts into his life rather than dwell on the snobbishness he could have leaned toward given his priviledged upbringing before his father died.

Charlie Hunnam delivers a very powerful performance as Nicholas, and you find yourself rooting for him from the very beginning. Jamie Bell, as poor sweet Smike will likely evoke sympathy, hope, and tears, as I ended up crying myself. Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent, and Juliet Stevens are all effectively evil, and Anne Hathaway really surprised me since I didn't think she could carry a role like that of Madeline Bray. I absolutely loved Nathan Lane as the theater owner Vincent Crummles, but Alan Cumming as Mr. Folair made me laugh.

This adaptation is not only dark and alternately funny in all the right places, but the photography is clever and beautifully shot, the musical score accommodatingly atmospheric. The stage sets really depict the cruelty of the not so romantic after all Victorian Londontown, and equally capture the beauty and serenity of the English countryside.

This movie is absolutely wonderful in every aspect; gorgeous to look at, excellent acting and direction, wonderful screenplay, and emotionally involving. The DVD extras are really informative and entertaining as well. Don't pass this one by; add it to your collection today.

Dickens' wish to share joy and happiness shines through...
In a family where happiness ruled and where they always had enough, but never too much, Nicholas Nickleby grew up. One day his father decided to begin to speculate, which at that time was analogous to playing the stock market, as his older brother Ralph Nickleby made a great fortune in this manner. However, as for most speculators Mr. Nickleby was led into financial ruin and an early death instead of to a great fortune. On the brink of poverty the family seeks out their uncle Ralph, who helps the family, but with ulterior motives. The uncle sends Nicholas to a boarding school as a teacher where he is forced to witness the abusive Mr. Squeers assault the students, in particularl the young and crippled boy Smike. This turns into a turning point in Nicholas's life as he was raised to shelter happiness and spread joy of life.

Nicholas Nickleby is based on Charles Dickens third book with the same name, and this adaptation is remarkably well planned as it offers the same interesting characters and intrigue where Nicholas sets out to find the means to help his family. On his journey Nicholas encounters several different individuals of questionable and honorable character, which is a frequent theme in Dickens' writing as can be observed in Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield. Nicholas is one of these honorable characters and the story is based around his good qualities as others attempt to corrupt or injure his persona. McGrath does a terrific job in creating an atmosphere where good and evil are evident allowing the story to be learned by young as well as old. In the end, Nicholas Nickleby offers a good cinematic experience that has something for everyone. ... Read more

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This long-delayed spoof about the "true story" behind the Bay of Pigs was released shortly after Thirteen Days, another movie about a Cuban (missile) crisis. The latter represented something of a comeback for Kevin Costner (after For Love of the Game) and director Roger Donaldson (after Dante's Peak). For Douglas McGrath, who cowrote Bullets Over Broadway (1994) and directed Emma (1996), Company Man represents something of a comedown. First off, it's just not very funny--and becomes even less so during its 81-minute running time. Secondly, McGrath, who has appeared in several Woody Allen films, is simply not charismatic enough to carry a picture--not this one, at any rate. Then there's the matter of a talented supporting cast in the service of material that feels both underwritten and overedited (possibly against the directors' wishes).

To his credit, McGrath is more of a verbal comedian (in over-enunciated Kevin Spacey mold) than a physical one. Consequently, he (grammar teacher-turned-CIA agent Quimp) and Allen (Quimp's superior) get the best lines. The physical gags mostly fall flat. Sigourney Weaver (Quimp's nagging wife), John Turturro (his overzealous partner), and Alan Cumming (deposed leader Batista) are hamstrung by this emphasis on the physical (and one-dimensional). Ultimately, McGrath (and cowriter-director Peter Askin) attempts to align Company Man with nebbish-in-the-middle satires like Allen's Bananas (1971) rather than serious-minded fare like Thirteen Days. He only proves that more time spent working for the Master (Allen)--rather than vice versa--should be in order. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hilarious!
This movie is hilarious!

The comedy isn't in disgusting acts but rather in the script. The main actor is a very funny character. The whole movie I was laughing throughout as they the script was very upbeat and always in tempo with what was going on screen. The acting was perfect with the script and all the actors did a great job portraying this movie.

See this movie! Rent it or buy it see it for yourself, you will not be disappointed.

Saved by John Turturro's scenery-chewing
Boy, I've been watching this movie for about a month this week, & I'm still in the first 90 minutes. Turturro is weird, which is why I like him, almost as weird as he was in Big Lebowski. Sigourney Weaver makes you want to sic an Alien on her. Dennis Leary is a throwaway here.

A good concept
"Company Man" is a spoof/comedy which is basically a work of fiction but placed in a certain place in History. It's 1961, around the time of the Bay of Pigs, and English Grammar teacher, Allen Quimp goes CIA agent(much to the chagrin of the CIA, to them he is a joke). He is sent on a "secret mission" to Cuba to assassinate Castro.
I'm not sure who this guy is who plays Allen, but he reminded me a little of Kevin Spacey, in the physical sense. Acting wise, he was hardly Oscar material, but I think he pulls the role off quite well. Especially up against Sigourney Weaver, who plays his greedy/selfish wife, Daisy. She gets some of the funniest lines in the film. John Toutorro plays his partner in crime, and he is very good and funny in his role. An almost unrecognizable Anthony Lapalgia plays Castro. Woody Allen is also in it, and he gets some funny lines also. Sprinkle in a little bit of Alan Cumming, playing his usual flamboyant character, and you have an interesting and entertaining line up of actors in this little comedy. I was entertained, and I laughed more in this than I have at most of the comedies I watched from the year 2001.
If you are a fan of films that spoof points in history, than this may be right up your alley. It will at least give you a good chuckle or two.

bad compmay!
this isn't a great wody allen flick. this is hte second one of this flicks that i'vz seen but it wasn't that funny. thouygh woodyt did haze the best line sin th ehwooellfl;ick. some funy patsrs but npt enough to keep all foo my attention. if you like woody get it!...peace ! ... Read more