A modern take ON A CLASSIC
Why legendary director Armando Iannucci’s colour-blind casting and modern take on this classic tale by Dickens leaves us wanting more…
THE brilliant creative mind behind very-un PC sociopathic political enforcer Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It may not have been the most obvious pick when it comes to a retelling of David Copperfield, but that’s exactly the sort of challenge award-winning director and writer Armando Iannucci relishes.
Victorian costume drama may be a far cry from the bickering, and behind-the-scene battles which made the backdrop of his hit BBC government satire, but Iannucci has effortlessly put his contemporary spin on Charles Dickens’ 170-year-old novel.
In a similar way to how he helped shake up British comedy in the early 1990s with excruciatingly hilarious shows like The Day Today and Alan Partridge – before ruling the airwaves in the US with the board-sweeping Veep - Iannucci puts Dickens in a modern melting pot that only makes the kaleidoscope of characters even more colourful, and the result is simply perfect.
In his third feature film, following In The Loop and madcap critical favourite The Death of Stalin, Iannucci is ready to change the way the film industry casts period dramas. Ignoring the dry cries of ‘historical accuracy’, he chose Dev Patel to play David, the open-hearted hero of this rollercoaster rags-to-riches story. The industry is already sitting up and taking notice; casting director Sarah Crowe – who helped select the likes of Tilda Swinton and Benedict Wong – is nominated for her eclectic efforts at the 2020 BAFTAs. When shown at the opening night of the London Film Festival, it won rave reviews for its brand new concept, acting and direction. And with a raft five-stars reviews, it has been described as ‘larger-than-life’, receiving 11 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and taking home five, including Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Laurie and Best Casting. And just like the original novel, Iannucci’s
Copperfield looks set to become not only a proper British classic, but another star-studded success story.