Great Expectations (1998)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Writers (WGA):

Charles Dickens (novel)
Mitch Glazer (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Let desire be your destiny.

Plot:

Modernization of Charles Dickens classic story finds the hapless Finn as a painter in New York pursuing his unrequited and haughty childhood love.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Dickens | Gulf Coast | New York City | Florida

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Ethan Hawke	...	Finnegan Bell
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Estella
Hank Azaria	...	Walter Plane
Chris Cooper	...	Joe
Anne Bancroft	...	Ms. Dinsmoor
Robert De Niro	...	Prisoner / Lustig
Josh Mostel	...	Jerry Ragno
Kim Dickens	...	Maggie
Nell Campbell	...	Erica Thrall
Gabriel Mann	...	Owen (as Gabriel Mick)
Jeremy James Kissner	...	Finnegan at Age 10
Raquel Beaudene	...	Estella - Age 10
Stephen Spinella	...	Carter Macleish
Marla Sucharetza	...	Ruth Shepard
Isabelle Anderson	...	Lois Pope

Also Known As:

Grandes esperanzas (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Große Erwartungen (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Büyük umutlar (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
De grandes espérances (France) [fr]
Grandes Esperanças (Portugal) [pt]
Grandes esperanzas (Great Expectations) (Spain) [es]
Les grandes espérances (Canada: French title) [fr]
Loistava tulevaisuus (Finland) [fi]
Lysande utsikter (Sweden) [sv]
Megales prosdokies (Greece) [el]
Paradiso perduto (Italy) [it]
Store forventninger (Norway) [no]
Store forventninger (Denmark) [da]
Szép remények (Hungary) [hu]
Velika pricakovanja (Slovenia) [sl]
Wielkie nadzieje (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #35333) | Philippines:PG-13 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Astor Place, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Art Linson Productions

Trivia:

In his book, "What Just Happened?", producer Art Linson reveals that the narration in the movie was written by David Mamet. It was done for free, on the condition that nobody ever find out he did it.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Arthur Lustig visits Finn, Finn gives him his address as 111 Greenwhich St., which is south of the World Trade Center. The nearest subway stop is the Rector St. 1/9 train. Yet when Finn takes Arthur to the subway, they end up at the J/M/Z Chambers St. stop. When a subway train does come, miraculously it is the G train, which is the only train in the system that does not enter Manhattan at all. In addition, none of the above mentioned trains would take Arthur to JFK, his stated destination, without at least one transfer.

Quotes:

Estella: I do love the way you dance.
[after sleeping with Finn]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sex and the City: Great Sexpectations (#6.2)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Bésame Mucho

The Green World

This movie, an absolute winner in many ways, lacked the recognition it deserved heavily, the wonderful green theme that runs throughout the movie makes it very pleasant for the viewing eye. Great Cinematography, Great Cast, Great music, add up to deliver a Great Movie which fulfils the viewers Great Expectations.