DVD Movie: Nicholas Nickleby

	Studios:	United Artists Films
	Release:	December 27th, 2002
	Genre:	Drama and Adaptation
	MPAA Rating:	PG for thematic material involving some violent action and a childbirth scene.

I haven't read the Dickens novel this movie was based on, so I cannot say if the adaptation stayed true to the source. I can say however that the movie does follow the Dickens formula of miserable kids going through hard times before finding a kind family/sponsor that would help them improve their lot.

Charlie Hunnam playing Nicholas provides good eye candy, and his acting doesn't hurt either. Jamie Bell as Smike was brilliant.

The story centers around Nicholas Nickleby, and it begins after the death of Nicholas' father. A country gentleman who managed to provide his children with good education and upbringing, the elder Nickleby died penniless and left many outstanding debts. His wife, daughter Kate and son Nicholas were forced to turn to his rich brother Ralph for help. Ralph however does not give things freely and would rather that they work for their food and shelter. Ralph brought the country Nicklebys to him in London, temporarily gave them shelter, but immediately had them looking for jobs to sustain themselves. Given his pride and idealism, Nicholas would immediately find himself at odds with his uncle.

Being learned in languages, Ralph sends Nicholas away to a boarding school to teach young boys. There, Nicholas is appalled at the headmaster's treatment of the boys. Even the headmaster's wife and children took part in the punishment. One of the boys that regularly gets punished is Smike. Nicholas takes pity on Smike, as he does not know who his parents are, and barely remembers anything apart from his life in the school. Nicholas took it upon himself to show Smike the only kindness the kid ever remembers receiving from anybody. Here we see how wonderful an actor Jamie Bell is, as he portrayed Smike as a kid who's deformed not only by the numerous punishments he's been subjected to, but also by his insecurities. Smike lived in an attic for the first years of his life before he was brought to the boarding school ... after that, no one ever came back for him. The kid never knew how it felt to be loved, and he probably didn't think himself worthy of it. It is not long before Nicholas would openly defy the headmaster when it comes to the matter of "punishment". Enraged at the cruelty he is witnessing, Nicholas gave the headmaster a good beating then took off. Being protective of Smike, Nicholas would spirit the child away from the school and together they headed for London.

Nicholas is kept updated of his mother and sister's welfare through his friend Noggs. A secretary to Ralph Nickleby by virtue of his unpaid debts, Noggs isn't loyal to his master and is actually sympathetic to the plight of Nicholas and his family. Noggs would inform Nicholas that the headmaster's daughter had written to his uncle, telling her version of how the headmaster got beaten up. Nicholas would leave London and use the name Nicholas Johnson to stay away from his uncle's wrath.

Nicholas and Smike would work in with a theater company in order to support themselves, which turned out to be a successful venture as playing leading man fit Nicholas perfectly. Nicholas' happy days at the theater would immediately come to an end when news of his family prompts him to fly back to London, dragging Smike with him. Enraged at the advances that a friend of his uncle made at his sister, Nicholas beats up the man and takes Kate and his mother away from his uncle's clutches. Nicholas finally reunites with his family and added Smike to it.

Once more out of a job and going back to theater out of the question, Nicholas goes out to look for a vacancy and meets the Cheerybyle twins who hire him. Nicholas must have hit the jackpot here because meeting people like the Cheerybles in real life is rare. Finding favor with his employers, Nicholas is able to provide well for his family and the country Nicklebys are happy once more... and Nicholas even found time to be smitten by a beautiful lady.

The bad guys have not taken the back seat though. The old headmaster finds Smike and had him locked up in a closet before the same person who helped sneak him out of the school freed him. Uncle Ralph tries to make Nicholas' life miserable, using his influence or calling in old debts. One of the saddest part of the movie, and the one which made me cry, was Smike's death.

However, despite the sad turns in the story, all ends well. Nicholas and Kate marry their respective loves, and the bad guys fall on misfortune. Ralph Nickleby would kill himself ... grieving after finding out that Smike is his son. As fate would have it ... Smike really was home with his family when he joined the house of Nicholas Nickleby.