Oliver Twist with Guitars!!

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 2007)

Picture Oliver Twist, an orphan in a big city, who runs away from his parentless life to fall in with "Wizard" Wallace (Fagin) and Arthur (The Artful Dodger). But, instead of the typical musical that comes from such a setting, we get Mozart thrown in and are treated to some of the best music imaginable! August, like Mozart, hears his music before he commits it to paper and this improvisational spirit comes out in this movie. The writers of this screenplay must be familiar with Dickens to so faithfully modernize such a wonderful book without doing the poor job that many others have created in other attempts.
The positive spirit of August (Evan) propels the movie forward at every turn. Not subject to the "realities" others are mired with, August pushes on to obtain that which he most wants, to find his parents through his music. Even Mr. Brownlow has a type of himself in this movie with the social worker, Richard Jeffries, who helps both August's mother, Lyla, as well as August.
The facade that is Fagin is also seen in Wizard Wallace's character, with money being the underlying motive for both men. Even Arthur betrays August when jealousy sullies their friendship as August begins to ride the upswing his talent generates.
Yet, unbridled hope exudes from August and even the darkest turn comes out well for him in the end, with even the self-centered motivations of Wizard Wallace not hindering August from attaining his destiny.
The cast carry off their parts very well, and there is no lag in the story even as time is manipulated to complete the character's background and let the audience in on motivations, desires, and disappointments. The end result is a splendid movie with an excellent musical score accompanying.