I like this movie a lot. It isn’t exactly true to the ’’letter of the law’’ of Dickens’ story, obviously, but the spirit of it doesn’t stray far from the book. Visually entrancing, (both architecturally and Gwynethesquely), and humanly real, you really find yourself getting on the side of Finn.
Also, there are many really beautiful passages in here, in Finn’s occasional, Bladerunner-ish voiceovers. I wrote one on a notecard and put it on my wall. It goes like this -- ’’And I could still draw. Nothing had lessened it, as much as I had abused it, as much as I had abandoned it. It was a gift, and it was still mine. And everything else was less real. What could it mean?! A picture of the world... But when it’s true, we recognize it. In ourselves, in others -- we RECOGNIZE it! Like love. Completely undeserved.’’ Isn’t that terrific??? Whatever your personal gifts might be, O reader, that line packs an inspirational wallop, as far as I’m concerned. There are loads of great lines like that in here, and any chance to see Gwyneth strut her stuff, haughtily or not, is always worth the price of a movie. Absolutely worth checking out.