Twist (film)

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Twist
215px
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jacob Tierney
Produced by Victoria Hirst
Dan Lyon
Kevin Tierney
Written by Jacob Tierney
Based on Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens
Starring Nick Stahl
Joshua Close
Music by Ron Proulx
Cinematography Gerald Packer
Edited by Mitch Lackie
Distributed by Christal Films (Canada)
Strand Releasing
Release dates
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  • September 7, 2003 (2003-09-07) (TIFF)
  • May 21, 2004 (2004-05-21) (US)
Running time
97 minutes
Country Canada
Language English
Budget $350,000
Box office $47,370

Twist is a 2003 Canadian drama film and a retelling of Charles Dickens' classic, Oliver Twist.

Plot

The film is similar in some ways to Seth Michael Donsky's 1996 film Twisted made prior to Tierney's film.

As in Donsky's film, the plot of Oliver Twist is updated to the present day, and moved out of the London poor house onto the streets of a large North American city (in Donsky's film it was New York City, and this film it is Toronto). In addition, the tale is told not from Oliver's point of view, but rather that of Dodge (Nick Stahl). The prosaically beautiful Oliver (Joshua Close) falls into the hands of down-and-out young men. Dodge takes Oliver under his wing and instructs him in the unforgiving arts of drug abuse and prostitution. Oliver develops a crush on Dodge and views him as his boyfriend, complicating their friendship. Dodge does not reciprocate his feelings, and reacts angrily to Oliver's kisses and other signs of affection. As Oliver's innocence dissolves, both young men confront their demons, and ultimately it is Dodge who finds he cannot escape his past. Dodge is found by his abusive brother around the same time the young men's caretaker commits suicide, sending Dodge into a violent rage at the film's conclusion.

Cast

Reception

Twist currently holds a 16% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Despite of [sic] its contemporary setting and some strong performances, this is a bland retelling of Oliver Twist."[1]

See also

References

External links