Nicholas Nickleby

Nicholas Nickleby Movie Review

The movie Nicholas Nickleby based on Charles Dicken's book is charming. It was nominated for Golden Globe 2002 Best Picture, musical or comedy. It won the National Board of Review 2002 Best acting by an ensemble.

Starring a cast of very talented actors, this is an excellent movie adaptation of Charles Dicken's book. Christopher Plummer is very convincing as the cunning, heartless rich uncle Ralph. Ralph is something like Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Instead of helping his dead brother's family, he exploited them.

Charlie Hunnam is Nicholas Nickleby, a kind hearted young man whose father has just passed away. He may be kindhearted but he has a backbone. The story is about Nicholas as he matures from that young man seeking his uncle's charity to a dependable young man who supports ones he loves.

Special mention should be given to Jamie Bell's Smike. He is very convincing as the crippled servant. (He is a dancer in real life, but you'd never guess that from the movie). Smike was rescued by Nicholas and became Nicholas' travel companion. The closeness of these two friends is almost like that of two lovers.

One thing that strikes me is the living conditions of the Boy's school run by the Squeers. You see young boys callously treated by the school master and school mistress. They are caned liberally and abused to subdue them. Contrast that to the way the Squeers spoil their own children. Jim Broadbent is memorable as Mr Squeers.

The story begins with Nicholas Nickleby, his mom and sister as they enter Ralph's Nickleby's home, asking for help. Instead of helping his late brother's family, Ralph splits them up. He gets Nicholas a job as a teacher in a boarding school, while promising him that he'll take care of his mom and sis.

That boarding school was a rude awakening for Nicholas. The kids were filthy and had to live in very poor living conditions. Each week, they were force fed a black sulphur liquid to supress their appetite. They were frequently beaten up too.

Of all the kids in that school, Smike, a crippled boy was treated the worst. His "father" had stopped paying after 6 months, so he worked like a slave to earn his keep. He was not allowed to read and was frequently left in the cold and beaten up. Initially, Nicholas stood by and watched submissively. When Smike ran away, was caught and whipped, Nicholas snapped, whipped Mr Squeer and both Nicholas and Smike fled from the school. There their adventure began.

An interesting subplot while still in that school was Mr Squeer's daughter's infatuation with Nicholas. When Nicholas told her straight off he was not interested, her infatuation turned to hatred and she helped her dad vengefully draft a letter to Nicholas' uncle to claim damage from Nicholas' confrontation with her dad.

Along the way, Nicholas and Smike joined a theater.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ralph used his beautiful niece, Kate to please his business associate. That old geezer was interested physically in Kate, so dear Uncle Ralph would make it convenient for that geezer to molest her.

Uncle Ralph's helper knew what his master was doing and secretly helped Nicholas and his sister.

The family was reunited again, with the addition of Smike. To start their lives afresh. Uncle Ralph wanted vengeance. He was all out to hurt Nicholas. First through Smike. When that failed, he found the woman Nicholas loved and used the debt owed to him by her father to arrange a wedding between her and that old geezer.

Smike falls ill and goes away with Nicholas. Upon his death, Ralph's secret is revealed.

In the end, good triumphs over evil. The movie ends happily for the good with a double wedding for the brother and sister. For Uncle Ralph, he gets what he deserves.