Twist, a Sky original, is a Dickens’ classic brought up to date in the teeming heartland of modern London, where a group of street smart young hustlers plan the heist of the century for the ultimate payday.
The film features an all-star British cast including two-time Academy Award winner Sir Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) as Fagin, Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) as Sikes, Rita Ora (50 Shades of Grey trilogy) plays Dodge, Franz Drameh (Legends of Tomorrow) as Batesey, Sophie Simnett (Daybreak) as Red and introducing Raff Law in the title role of Twist.
I remember back in my school days reading Oliver Twist the Charles Dickens classic and also watching the film Oliver! almost every other Christmas on TV, which I have to say has always been one of my favourite adaptations of the book.
When the news was announced that a Sky Original Films was adapting a modern-day retelling of the story I have to say I was a little apprehensive about the production, although I was excited to find out that Michael Caine (The Dark Knight, The Prestige) and Lena Heady (Dredd, Game of Thrones) were in the list of the cast.
For me, I think that Oliver Twist is one of those great pieces of literature that when being adapted needs to be set in the era that it was originally based, now this is solely my point of view, the story of the orphan who escapes the horror of the workhouse and takes to the streets of 19th-Century London is something that doesn’t really work when bringing it to modern-day.
Who can ever forget those wonderful characters that Dickens brought to life in the book that were done so brilliantly in the 1948 version directed by David Lean with Alec Guinness as Fagin and Then brought to the screens in colour with the magical musical in Carol Reed 1968 Oliver! with Ron Moody and Oliver Reed, these were films that are still a joy to watch over and over again, sadly TWIST doesn’t hold up to those wonderful adaptation.
The idea is nice, but I found myself losing any interest in the characters, the production just doesn’t seem to have the passion for the characters that Dickens brought us, it all seems very one dimensional which is a real shame as there is potential here but it is sadly lost on the characters.
It is sad to say that the film is a bit of a let down, there are moments I did like the parkour was pretty impressive on the opening sequence of the film as the credits were graffitied on the walls as Twist tries to evade the police that are chasing him before he bumps into Dodge (Rita Ora) and Batesy (Franz Drameh) who introduce him to Fagin (Michael Caine).
Twist, directed by Martin Owen (The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud) also stars David Walliams (After Ever After) and Noel Clarke (Bulletproof). The film is produced by Unstoppable Film and TV, Pure Grass Films, FAE Film and Television, and is co-produced by Sky and Red Bull Media House. Twist is written by John Wrathall (The Liability) and Sally Collett. Producers are Matt Williams, Ben Grass, Jason Maza and Noel Clarke.
TWIST Stars, Sir Michael Caine, Lena Headey, Rita Ora, Franz Drameh, Sophie Simnett, David Walliams, Noel Clarke and introducing Raff Law in the title role, the film is directed by Martin Owen.
Twist is now showing on Sky Cinema and NOW TV Sky Cinema Pass.
Well known names in this production can't save this rather pointless modernised retelling of a popular classic
Movie title: TWIST (2021)
Movie description: A Modern take on the classic tale of Oliver Twist.
Date published: January 29, 2021
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 29min
Director(s): Martin Owen
Actor(s): Lena Headey, Michael Caine, Noel Clarke
Genre: Drama
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
