Great Expectations (1998 film)

Great Expectations (1998 film) is a contemporary adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the film relocates the story from Victorian England to modern-day New York City and Florida.

The plot follows Finn, a young artist living in the Florida Gulf Coast, who is brought into the orbit of the wealthy and eccentric Nora Dinsmoor. Nora, a reclusive woman living in a dilapidated mansion, takes Finn under her wing and introduces him to her adopted niece, Estella. Finn becomes infatuated with Estella, but their relationship is complicated by her aloofness and Nora's manipulative influence.

As Finn matures, his art gains recognition, and he is offered a lucrative opportunity in New York City by a mysterious benefactor. He believes that Estella will eventually be his, and his expectations of wealth and love are fueled by his past encounters and his benefactor's actions. The film explores themes of class, ambition, art, and the destructive power of unrequited love, mirroring the themes in Dickens' original novel but through a modern lens.

The film stars Ethan Hawke as Finn, Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella, Anne Bancroft as Nora Dinsmoor, and Robert De Niro as Arthur Lustig, Finn's mysterious benefactor, who replaces the character of Abel Magwitch from the novel. The film received mixed reviews upon its release.