THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD Trailer
Armando Iannucci’s strange eye is turned to Dickens in The Personal History of David Copperfield.
This isn’t exactly a straight adaptation of David Copperfield but a warped version of it, with the satire and humor turned up to 11. Dickens used these things as well in his book, but the melodrama he’s so famous for is missing from this trailer. There’s still Copperfield struggling through young adulthood, though, meeting various eccentrics and getting into all sorts of bizarre situations. In that way, it is still very much an adaptation of David Copperfield, but one that will appeal to those looking for someone to take chances with the material.
Iannucci is certainly known for pulling off bizarre takes in things like The Death of Stalin and Veep, both of which put his sense of humor on full display. So no, this isn’t exactly a stretch for him, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it, I guess. The other person who will definitely be flaunting it is Dev Patel, who takes on the title role. He’s always a good bet to carry a film, and he’s got a hell of a supporting cast to play off of, including Peter Capaldi, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, and Ben Whishaw.
All in all, this looks like a lively take on an esteemed novel. What could go wrong?
The Personal History of David Copperfield is directed by Armando Iannucci and stars Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, and Tilda Swinton. It will be released in the UK on January 24th, 2020 and in the US on May 8th, 2020. For international release dates, click here.
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