Stars: Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Bancroft, Robert De Niro, Chris Cooper, Hank Azaria, Nell Campbell, Josh Mostel, Marla Sucharetza, Stephen Spinella, Kim Dickens, Isabelle Anderson, Raquel Beaudene, Jeremy James Kissner, Gabriel Mick

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Summary: A mysterious benefactor gives an aspiring artist his first big break in New York. There he meets up with a young woman whom he has vowed to win over...

A rising artist, flourishing with the help of a benefactor, falls fruitlessly in love with his wealthy childhood playmate, who has grown to be a beautiful coquette. But the nefarious influence of her eccentric, spiteful maiden aunt taints their relationship. A stylish, heavily romantic updating of the eponymous Dickens classic, staged in 1970s south Florida. Bancroft, as the "Miss Havisham" character, steals the show.

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The key ingredient in this modern-day version of Charles Dickens's classic is director Alfonso Cuarón, who made the glowing, estimable A Little Princess. If you saw that (and you should), understand that Expectations has those ingredients (great sense of time, place, and timing) but adds modern music and sex appeal; the latter personified by the long-legged Gwyneth Paltrow. Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke as an adult, Jeremy James Kissner at age 10) is the new version of Dickens's Pip. He's a child wise beyond his years, befriending an escaped convict (Robert De Niro) in the warm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. Finn is also the plaything for Estella (Paltrow as an adult, Raquel Beaudene at age 10), the niece of the coast's richest and most eccentric lady, Ms. Dinsmoor (a fun and flamboyant Anne Bancroft). The prudish Estella likes Finn (catch the best first kiss scene in many a moon) but has been brought up to disdain men; she'll break hearts. As the object of Finn's desires, Estella unfortunately is a one-dimensional character, yet what a dimension! Clad in Donna Karan dresses and her long, sun-kissed hair, Paltrow is luminous. She and Hawke make a very sexy couple. Mitch Glazer's script does better by Finn. He's a blue-collar worker with a gift for drawing (artwork by Francesco Clemente). Following his Uncle Joe's (Chris Cooper) honest ways, Finn grows up as a fisherman, thoughts of Estella and art drifting away in the hard work. When a mysterious benefactor allows him to follow his dream, Finn finds himself in New York, preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit--and in the arms of the engaged Estella. Filled with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's golden-drenched light, the film has an irresistible, wildly romantic look. Dinsmoor's place is certainly gothic, Estella and Finn's longing encounters glamorous. Cuarón uses an MTV-friendly soundtrack with a confident touch. Songs by Tori Amos and the band Pulp--along with Patrick Doyle's silky score--create passionate scenes. It all ends far too swiftly with a seemingly tacked-on ending (reflecting the book, as it happens) but the film is splendid storytelling. It's a stylish, sweet valentine. --Doug Thomas

Aspect Ratio:	2.35 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Original Theatrical Trailer, Scene Access, Interactive Menus
Subtitles:	Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Year:	1997
Release Date:	February 4, 2002
Runtime:	107 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	04492 D V D
Keywords:	Great, Classic, Book, General, Wide, Screen, Expectations, Romantic, Drama, Based
Genre:	Drama