Update doesn't lower 'Expectations'

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox Fools in love Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke trip the light fantastic in "Great Expectations."

How do you spice up a Victorian tale? Add a dash of Ethan Hawke, a pinch of Gwyneth Paltrow and stir in some sex.

Charles Dickens' classic "Great Expectations" has been loosely adapted into a movie that is more entertaining and interesting than, even if it is not as thoughtful and universal as, the original novel.

"Great Expectations" starts out as a nostalgic exploration of a child's world. Young Finnegan Bell (Jeremy James Kissner) is a meditative, artistic boy who draws the scenery of Florida.

In the shallow waters of pretty beach, Finn meets an escaped prisoner (Robert De Niro) who will have a big impact on his life.

One day, he follows his uncle Joe (Chris Cooper) to the crumbling home of the wealthy Ms. Dinsmoor (Anne Bancroft), whose estate, overrun by wild weeds, tangled trees and creeping vines, symbolically mirrors the owner's damaged state of mind.

Dinsmoor sees Finn as an opportunity to avenge the wrong she once suffered by being stood up at the altar. Summoned to entertain Dinsmoor's niece, Estella, Finn eventually falls for the young beauty. Finn dances with Estella every week for years until they become young adults, played by Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow.

This moment seems to be the turning point for a movie that had until then been enchantingly evocative. What was an child's fantasy becomes a fairly conventional love story.

Estella leaves for France, urged on by the bitter old Dinsmoor, and breaks poor Finn's heart. He turns to a life of fishing and drinking, abandoning his painter's brush for the fisherman's net.

REVIEW
	Great Expectations 3 stars At Briarwood & Showcase

Ten years later, Finn is offered the opportunity to paint once again.

Brought to New York by an unknown benefactor, Finn launches a successful art career and fulfills some pretty great expectations.

By chance, Finn is reunited with Estella, in a particularly erotic drinking fountain scene.

"Great Expectations" has a lot of great aspects. Director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki does a marvelous job of shooting this modern Dickensian world. Rich and textured, there is not a single shot in this movie that lacks visual power.

In fact, the beauty of the film completely overwhelms the flimsy plot. Once young Finn is abandoned in favor of Hawke's dopiness, the film fails to maintain its thematic integrity. It is perhaps too tempting to turn "Great Expectations" into a love story starring Paltrow and Hawke.

Hawke's acting is by far the weakest part of the film. Hawke seems to hold the same bewildered look on his handsome face throughout the movie. What can be going on behind those vacant eyes?

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox Anne Bancroft in "Great Expectations."

In addition, Hawke is given the task of narrating the action periodically throughout the film. His words usually lack the eloquence needed to correspond fittingly to the visual expressiveness.

Paltrow, on the other hand, offers a strong performance.

Both self-assured and insecure, the actress shows us how seductive and coy her character can be.

Anne Bancroft offers the film's best performance as a tragic example of the spurned woman.

While her cracked make-up covers a face riddled with wrinkles, Bancroft reveals the wicked and pitiful life of an aging spinster.

"Great Expectations" is dazzling to look at but often feels very cliche. Moments of tenderness are often lessened by a trite screenplay and are always overpowered by the visual strength of the film. As the main character, Hawke fails to live up to expectations, looking more like a vapid 20-something than an introspective artist.

Nonetheless, the movie does succeed on lyricism and aching splendor alone. "Great Expectations" may not be the masterpiece Dickens wrote, but it's still a pretty good movie.

02-03-98