MovieChat Forums > Nicholas Nickleby (2003) Discussion > I love this film, but have a few problem...

I love this film, but have a few problems with it...

posted 17 years ago by Severus_Snape666
10 replies | jump to latest

Really like this film, but some things really bug me:
-Why the hell did they cast Barry Humphries as Mrs Crummles? I was convinced that she was supposed to be a he until I read otherwise on here. He does not look like, act or sound like a woman. The decision to cast him was insane.
-Anne Hathway looked far too modern in the film. Her accent was very american and she didn't seem to fit in with the Victorian era.
-The costumes were a let down. I love watching period films for their costume design and this seemed to mostly be a jumble of Victorian dresses that weren't quite right for the era. I hated the wedding dresses, looked like someone had popped own to the nearest wedding dress shop and thought, 'hmm, what looks slightly Victorian?'
Did anyone else think these things about the film?
Clare

[–] misspumpkin 17 years ago

I totally agree with you about the costumes they were a jumble! And the thing about Anne Hathaway was definitley true, compared to Kate she looked really out of place. Acting of Nicholas, Kate and Anne Hathaway was all a little weak in places i thought, or maybe im being too harsh?? Do u agree?

Whats all this about a man being cast as a woman? Was it the bit where Nick n Smike met the actors?

[–] Severus_Snape666 17 years ago

I thought Kate was excellent in her role. I've seen the actress in Mary Bryant before this, which I thought she played very well also. A lot of people have commented on Nicholas' accent but that didn't bother me too much. It sounded a little strange, but I have heard people sounding strange. I thought his acting otherwise was fine though. I thought Christopher Plummer as Ralph Nickleby showed exactly the right sort of cold detachment and hate that was neceesary for the role (i'm halfway through the book and he is just like that in it!). And though she normally really annoys me, I thought that Juliet Stevenson as Mrs Squeers was fantastic too.
When Nicholas and Smike meet Mr Crummles and go to the threatre to work, Mr Crummles introduces Mrs Crummles. Mrs Crummles (the 'woman' in the big elizabethan style gown...) is played by a man who is well-known for his hideous drag act, Dame Edna. It is just...wrong. And weird.
Clare

[–] sastull 17 years ago

I agree about the costumes. Though their colors portrayed the right mood (dark in the city and at the school, brighter in the country and with the crummles) I thought they were all a mess. But i think that Anne Hathaway did a decent job. And i think the part of casting barry humphries was really great..i think the whole point was that he didn't act or look like a woman. It was great.

[–] PinkWeeds 16 years ago

I really loved the casting of Dame Edna as Mrs. Crummles. It was a breath of fresh air in a movie that would have been sadly lacking in humor without her.

As for Anne, are you kidding me? Watch the behind the scenes, she worked with a coach before the film and from the moment she walked on set she spoke in a british accent, all of her fellow actors (all of which are british) believed she was because of her accent. I thought she did an amazing job and is way better at period pieces than say Kiara Knightly who just shouldn't do them but insists upon it anyway.

But in my personal opinion I thought that all the acting paled next to that of Jamie Bell who played Smike.

[–] kneazle_ 16 years ago

But in my personal opinion I thought that all the acting paled next to that of Jamie Bell who played Smike.

Couldn't agree more. He was absolutely fantastic.

However, regarding Anne, whilst I think her acting on the whole was fine, if you watch the scene with her and Charlie Hunnam by the fountain, her accent does sound very American.

"Stupid, shiny Volvo owner"
http://mykneazle.deviantart.com/

[–] filmfreaak 16 years ago

Okay, I agree with everything except...
HELLO?!
Anne did a GREAT job.
She used her full on accent during the entire film process and everyone said (During this one interview) that they thought she was british.
And her acting was amazing...she didnt look modern at all.

XxX Me? A PRINCESS? Shut. Up. XxX

[–] anatja 16 years ago

Agree with the OP 100%

If you love Satan and are 100% proud of it copy this and make your signature!

[–] filmfreaak 16 years ago

OP?

Interviewer: You get to kiss...
Anne: Well, Yes...
Steve: so, SUCK ON THAT!
Anne: Oh, I did.

[–] anatja 16 years ago

Original poster.

If you love Satan and are 100% proud of it copy this and make your signature!

[–] Chromaggia-Le-Fatale 16 years ago

Romola Garai was fantastic as always as Kate, Anne Hathaway was a little weak as Madeline, Emmy Rossum might have been better, but she was very sweet and she looked the part.

A million sympathies for Jennifer Hudson.