This 2000 television adaptation of
Charles Dickens' Victorian classic was originally released as a six-hour, three-part miniseries on PBS. Adapted by
Alan Bleasdale, this version of
Oliver Twist gives viewers a new look at an old story, waiting 90 minutes to even introduce its eponymous hero (played by
Sam Smith), and taking pains to establish the background of Oliver's parents, good-hearted Agnes Fleming (
Sophia Myles) and all-around coward Edwin Leeford (
Tim Dutton). All of the resolutely Dickensian touches are here, from greedy relatives to secret wills, to stolen lockets containing valuable information, and all are ably brought to life by a talented cast that includes
Julie Walters as Mrs. Mann,
Michael Kitchen as Mr. Brownlow,
Lindsay Duncan as Elizabeth Leeford,
Marc Warren as Monks, and
Robert Lindsay as Fagin. As an added bonus, the miniseries' score, by
Paul Pritchard, contains additional music by none other than
Elvis Costello. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide