The Personal History of David Copperfield

The Personal History of David Copperfield is an adaptation of the classic 1850 novel by Charles Dickens, though it does take some liberties. Cowritten and directed by Armando Iannucci, the film follows the book's plot very well though certain characters are given different choices and outcomes and having a slightly different ending. Dev Patel portrays the older version of the character who narrates much of the story in first person and stars alongside Peter Capaldi, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, and Ben Whishaw. The casting is unique in that characters like Copperfield are played by actors of color from a novel written in the mid-1800s and never feels like it needs to have a reason. Everyone plays the roles perfectly and never feeling like Iannucci's fast and over the top comedy makes them caricatures. While only being in the film in small parts, Capaldi's performance as Micawber is an excellent and wonderful scene stealer. The writing between Iannucci and Simon Blackwell initially starts out slow, and some of that slowness does occur from time to time, but mostly has a good mixture of surreal comedy, heartened drama, and well done witty satire. You really do get a feel of Victorian England thanks to how great the production design, Zac Nicholson's cinematography, and the direction really are. While I've never seen any of Iannucci's past films, I have seen Avenue 5 and can definitely see a lot of similarities to The Personal History of David Copperfield with his quick comedy and often dark, though quirky, drama. Over all: 91%

2020 top list so far:
1. The Invisible Man 2020
2. The Gentlemen
3. Birds of Prey
4. The Personal History of David Copperfield

5. Onward
6. Tenet

7. The New Mutants

8. Bad Boys for Life
9. The Call of the Wild 2020
10. Sonic the Hedgehog