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      Twist

      R Released May 21, 2004 1h 37m Drama List
      16% 31 Reviews Tomatometer 53% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score This loose modernized adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale focuses on Dodge (Nick Stahl), a street-smart Toronto hustler. When Dodge meets wide-eyed innocent runaway Oliver (Joshua Close), he teaches the youth how to survive in their harsh urban environment and also introduces him to plenty of vices. Working under Fagin (Gary Farmer), an imposing pimp, Dodge and Oliver engage in prostitution and drug abuse, with no easy way out of their trouble-filled existence. Read More Read Less

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      Critics Consensus

      Despite of its contemporary setting and some strong performances, this is a bland retelling of Oliver Twist.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member lousy update of the Dicken's 'oliver twist' Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This modernized Oliver Twist is a good film. It's understated, and all the more upsetting for it: the gradual degradation of the Oliver character is believable and genuinely disturbing. The slow-burn tragedy of the story, the literal darkening of the atmosphere as day scenes give way entirely to night, convince the viewer as effectively as the characters that there is no way out of their unhappiness. The weight of the movie is on Stahl as the Artful Dodger ("Dodge"), and he carries it faultlessly. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Drab and uncompeing twist on Oliver Twist. Probably couldnt be worse. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member I am stunned by the negative reviews - especially from "professional" critics who condemn the movie simply because it is sad. Well, clearly they have no knowledge of the historical impact of the Dickens tale. It was a eye-opening sketch regarding the exploitation of poor kids. This is the same story in a modern face. People are uncomfortable with sex - especially among youth. They are also clearly uncomfortable with poverty. What I find interesting is that critics gushed over the movie Precious - even though it is stark, sexual, and extremely depressing. Yet -- this same film provokes condemnation for being equally sad. I suspect that people are used to seeing poverty and devastation in black face -- especially in the US. But seeing it among white youth - especially "gay" youth is too much for them. Too many stereotypes are challenged. Statistics, however, show that very high percentages of gay youth are homeless, and many of them engage in prostitution for survival. Take off your blinders folks. This is real! Same-sex marriage will not cure it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member enjoyable and let's face it, it happens in this world. it's nice to see it being brought to light. so to the reviewers who are offended, think about the kids who live this life really, would you poo poo them away or be offended by them? Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member I reserve one star reviews for movies that are not just mediocre but that offend me. And Twist came close. It's the timidity of filming of gay subjects. There are as many gay subjects as straight so I don't have to see graphic sex and lots of skin, but I take offense to the purposeful refusal to engage these techniques in a film about gay hustlers. There is, for example, a kiss between Nick Stahl's character and Joshua Close's that is so clearly faked it would be laughable if it weren't so tedious. This is the kind of quaint filmmaking in which there is fast cut before even showing a man in his underwear, as if it would be in the worst taste to do so. And, of course, it's a terrible, pompous bore of a film, meandering and pointless. The retelling of Oliver Twist, names not changed, feels hopelessly contrived and unintentionally amusing. Two good things: the soundtrack is excellent, introducing me to two new artists, Royal City and Gentleman Reg. And the feel of Toronto in winter is very tactile, and convincing. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      John Hartl Seattle Times One of the glummest recent attempts to drag a classic story into the 21st century. Rated: 1.5/4 Sep 3, 2004 Full Review Tom Maurstad Dallas Morning News The only thing funny about Twist is how seriously it takes its own pompous preposterousness. Rated: D Aug 5, 2004 Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post The movie's far too stagy and pretentious. Jul 30, 2004 Full Review Don Willmott Filmcritic.com Rated: 2/5 Nov 7, 2004 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com My memory may be a little vague on this one, but I don't recall any incest scenes in the original Oliver Twist Rated: 2/5 Nov 4, 2004 Full Review Jon Popick Planet S Magazine This would make Dickens suicidal, probably in more than one way. Oct 19, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis This loose modernized adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale focuses on Dodge (Nick Stahl), a street-smart Toronto hustler. When Dodge meets wide-eyed innocent runaway Oliver (Joshua Close), he teaches the youth how to survive in their harsh urban environment and also introduces him to plenty of vices. Working under Fagin (Gary Farmer), an imposing pimp, Dodge and Oliver engage in prostitution and drug abuse, with no easy way out of their trouble-filled existence.
      Director
      Jacob Tierney
      Producer
      Dan Lyon, Kevin Tierney
      Distributor
      Strand Releasing
      Production Co
      Victorious Films
      Rating
      R (Disturbing Sexual Content|Some Violence|Language)
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 21, 2004, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 26, 2017
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $46.2K
      Runtime
      1h 37m
      Sound Mix
      Surround
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)
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