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Great Expectations (1998)

R  |   |  Drama, Romance  |  30 January 1998 (USA)
6.8
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Ratings: 6.8/10 from 41,270 users   Metascore: 55/100
Reviews: 196 user | 73 critic | 24 from Metacritic.com

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

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Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
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Title: Great Expectations (1998)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
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Walter Plane
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Joe
...
...
Prisoner / Lustig
...
Jerry Ragno
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Maggie
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Erica Thrall
...
Owen (as Gabriel Mick)
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Finnegan at Age 10
...
...
Carter Macleish
Marla Sucharetza ...
Ruth Shepard
Isabelle Anderson ...
Lois Pope
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Storyline

Based on Charles Dickens' timeless tale, this is a story of the love of a man for an unreachable woman. Updated to modern day New York City, the story concerns a man of modest background who falls in love with a rich girl. But when a mysterious benefactor greenlights the man to make his dreams come true, everything done has the ultimate goal of making Estella fall in love with him... Written by Steve Richer <sricher@sympatico.ca>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Let desire be your destiny.

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

30 January 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Grandes esperanzas  »

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$9,593,290 (USA) (30 January 1998)

Gross:

£1,816,677 (UK) (8 May 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

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. See more »

Goofs

When Finn is yelling up at Estella's apartment after his show, his bottle of wine switches hands from the left to the right and then back to the left. See more »

Quotes

Finn: What's it like not to feel anything?
Estella: Let's say there was a little girl, and from the time she could understand, she was taught to fear... let's say she was taught to fear daylight. She was taught that it was her enemy, that it would hurt her. And then one sunny day, you ask her to go outside and play and she won't. You can't be angry at her can you?
Finn: I knew that little girl and I saw the light in her eyes, and no matter what you say or do, that's still what I see.
Estella: We are who we are. People don't...
See more »

Crazy Credits

The credits are accompanied by images of all the artwork drawn by Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke). They run the entire duration of credits. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Brows Held High: Vinyl (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

Bésame Mucho
Written by Consuelo Velázquez
Performed by The Coasters
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
by arrangement with Warner Special Products
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Just what I expected.
29 March 1999 | by (Netherlands) – See all my reviews

I went into Great Expectations with high hopes. The story has always been one of my favorites and I couldn't wait too see what they had done with it. The film is beautiful. It is very rich in color and scope. The cinematography was outstanding and the direction was solid. The acting was brillant all around. Robert De Niro is in the movie only briefly, but brings respect to a role that could be just a flash in the pan for anyone else. Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow are great and Chris Cooper turns in a very subtle but powerful performance as Finn's guardian. The film left me feeling good, what more could you ask for in a movie?


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Beautiful film, moving soundtrack, great symbolism... helenekremer
Ethan Hawk terrible in this rufurious
Terrible movie. the_world_is_flat
Green theme dianapurkiss
Did anyone else feel for Joe? itsxFREE
song on ending credit? nivlem88
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