The Ghost of Christmas Future appears as a man in black with his mouth sewn shut. TV Review – “A Christmas Carol” on FX. Photograph: Robert Viglasky/FX/BBC/Scott Free This isn’t the “Christmas Carol” story you know and love. Content warning: This review discusses the show’s depiction of (implied) sexual abuse. Had Dickens' original Scrooge either refused to change his ways or simply resign himself to his fate, the story would not have become a classic because it would have lacked both the narrative punch of a complete character arc and the feel-good moment of redemption. FX’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ review. So while Knight pays homage to both classic moments in the 176-year-old tale and adaptations gone by, as well as adding his own clever twists and turns to the narrative, neither Scrooge nor the audience is given a chance to breathe free and celebrate joyously. Though a tad clunky at times, it’s not altogether unsuccessful in what it’s trying to accomplish, at least in terms of investigating the roots of Scrooge’s miserliness, and demonstrating the true costs of his greed and shameless devotion to capitalism as it pertains to actual human lives. We get to spend quite a bit of time with Stephen Graham's Jacob Marley, much more than we normally do in such adaptations; he also has the unenviable distinction of being both the most pissed-off and pissed-on version of Marley ever to grace the screen. Classified as at 3 part TV mini-series, this variant is a 3 hour long movie that is available from FX, Xfinity and several other streaming services like Hulu, Fubo and Sling. (Spoiler: It doesn't quite work.). Abuse of all kinds afflicts the young Scrooge in just about every way imaginable. A Christmas Carol premieres Thursday, December 19 @7:30pm on FX. The adult Scrooge uses this reality as an excuse to harden his heart and treat everyone around him with contempt and disdain, and it's only when he can voice these past pains against him that he's able to move forward. FX’s A Christmas Carol premieres tonight at 7:30p ET/PT. A Christmas Carol looks gorgeous but is too stilted, too mannered, too self-aware and, ultimately, too slow. This version of A Christmas Carol will wind up this season of Christmas Movie Reviews, and what a season it has been! Something this version of A Christmas Carol does exceptionally well, however, is that it throws audiences for a loop whenever Scrooge trips through space and time. Tags: A Christmas Carol, FX, Review, Reviews, TV Review, TV Reviews Charles Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol has been adapted more times and ways than I can count. The changes to each of these spirits are interesting ones: Christmas Past is traditionally androgynous and sports a flame or fire motif; Serkis' spirit, which accompanies Scrooge for a solid hour of the special after another hour spent in the prologue, is more of a half-blind (one eye on the past, you see) mad woodsman, tasked with burning memories of Christmases past on a great bonfire, and I love this redesign. The FX Original Movie is a spine-tingling immersion into Scrooge’s dark night of the soul. Guy Pearce, at 52, is a lot younger than we're used to seeing Ebenezer Scrooge, meaning that he has to be that much crueler to catch up to his older counterparts in terms of sins. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. This Scrooge is not hollering from top-floor windows for Christmas goose or dancing around his bedroom with a song in his heart and a spring in his step. While a straightforward, albeit dark and f-bomb-dropping version, of Dickens’ work would likely be worth a passing glance — especially this time of year — Knight has something different in mind for his adaptation. Bah, humbug. Knight wants his Scrooge to be both a mustache-twirling villain who uses facts and figures to make each and every cold, calculated decision regardless of the human or emotional costs involved, but he also wants us to empathize with Scrooge well before there's any hint of repentance. So what works for this version of A Christmas Carol? A new, gritty "Christmas Carol" is coming to FX, inspired by the miniseries "Taboo." And in doing so, Knight, Murphy and FX may have plumbed the depths of the soul and the human condition, but they were so consumed by the darkness of A Christmas Carol that they forgot to let the light shine in at the end. FX's A Christmas Carol is designed to alienate the Dickens brand's traditional core audience and probably won't much engage the curiosity of more mature viewers. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Indeed, beyond “A Christmas Carol” completists — those determined to have seen every retelling of Charles Dickens’ seasonal yarn — it’s not really clear who this is for. More: Runaways Season 3 Review: Marvel TV’s Teen Heroes Call It A Day. For the bulk of the telling, A Christmas Carol should scare the coal out of both good and sinful people the world over, because it's an exposé of all of us at our worst moments, a critique of humankind and how we behave on every day of the year except for those where holiday traditions demand we actually be civil for once. Scrooge and the tale told by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, has been a holiday treat in many forms over time. Mary’s connection to the spirit world, however, is more tenuous, both as a narrative device and as a way of informing the audience who she is. Without this change of heart, there's literally no point to the story whatsoever. 17sec. The Best New Movies to Watch on Netflix in March 2021, FX's 'A Christmas Carol' Review: Hard-Hearted, Black as Coal, and Cold as Ice, More So while the harsh reality of his life definitely comes across (and it'd be very hard to miss it), there are moments that take that darkness to an unnecessary extreme. The Ghost then shows Scrooge his own corpse, alone with no mourners. A Christmas Carol looks gorgeous but is too stilted, too mannered, too self-aware and, ultimately, too slow. The result is that FX has made a Christmas Carol that very much isn't for children — seriously, the wee ones will be either bored or scandalized — and probably isn't really for adults either. Charles Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol has been adapted more times and ways than I can count. A new take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is showing on BBC One in the U.K. on three consecutive nights before Christmas … Subtitles. Traditionally terrifying, this spectre starts out as a shrouded, bell-swinging horror, like something out of a Dark Souls game, but unfortunately once the hood is literally pulled back, the effect is not scary at all. Then, there’s the subversive update, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, which is always highly recommended this time of year. In A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner pays him a visit on Christmas Eve. His character is taken so far into the darkness that basic empathy and care for another human being is as close as he can get to joy, happiness, and reveling in the Christmas spirit. Knight's script glorifies in diving headfirst into the multitude of sins committed by Scrooge and partner Jacob Marley, just as much as he loves letting Scrooge wax philosophically about just how awful every human being is (except for himself and Marley, of course). Though the emphasis on Scrooge’s past makes the story uneven at times, and certain actors seem to be in entirely different productions, A Christmas Carol is nevertheless a worthy addition to the ever-growing list of adaptations of the Dickens novella. You haven't seen 'A Christmas Carol' like this. FX's A Christmas Carol certainly brings something new to the tried-and-true story and it's worth a watch for that alone. We see Scrooge's office become the underside of a frozen lake, watching in horror along with him as someone breaks through the thin ice and drowns in midair. He's not nearly as endearingly loony as Patrick Stewart, Tim Curry, Michael Caine, George C. Scott, Bill Murray, Reginald Owen, or Alastair Sim, and that's a shame, because Pearce has the talent to let loose but the gravitational pull of this version's dark subject material just wouldn't let him go. There’s little information in regard to Mary’s relationship with the supernatural nor is she much of a character outside of her actions, and as such, the supernatural connection is both abrupt and a little befuddling. Next: Lost In Space Season 2 Review: More High-Flying Family-Friendly Adventure. But without a redemptive rise to counterbalance all that darkness, A Christmas Carol misses out on the meaning of the story and the greater meaning of the Christmas season. It is not without its merits, though, as a disturbing scene involving Scrooge testing Mary’s resolve in exchange for money to save Tim’s life becomes the moment at which it seems Ebenezer is beyond redemption (and perhaps indeed he is), and the source of Mrs. Cratchet’s dimension-bending ire. Some of the best moments from other adaptations of A Christmas Carol come while watching Scrooge act like a lighthearted boy once more, despite his advanced age and notorious reputation as a cruel miser and skinflint. FX’s content being what it is, one could suss out fairly quickly how this new version of A Christmas Carol was going to work. Audio languages. The story still takes its direction from Dickens' original, but focuses on the evil of scrooge, so you will encounter some new 'twists' along the recognizable story path. It's not hyperbole to say that the three-hour FX event is superlative in all of those categories, taking the darkest descriptions of Dickens' Scrooge and the Spirits that visit him and twisting them further, not quite beyond recognition, but very near to the point of no return. In other words, television — especially in the ongoing glut of content known as Peak TV — isn’t exactly in dire need of a new spin on the classic tale of redemption. He also delights in lording punishment over Scrooge (via the Spirits) and over everyone Scrooge encounters, via Scrooge himself. Normally, this spirit is a vast and jovial Santa Claus type; not so in Knight's version. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a holiday staple, seen in various iterations this time of year, including Disney animated and Muppets children’s versions, the stop-motion animated variety, and more traditional outings like the films starring George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart. Instead, this movie’s limits are obvious, in terms of its eloquence and its targeted audience. This one is worth seeking out. From Dave Trumbore, ‘Young Guns 3’: Emilio Estevez Says Sequel Is “Definitely in the Works”, What Chadwick Boseman's Wife Said to Delroy Lindo After Filming a Key Scene of 'Da 5 Bloods', The 75 Best Netflix Shows and Original Series to Watch Right Now, How the MCU Was Made: ‘Iron Man 3’ and Crafting That Mandarian Twist, Dominique Fishback to Star Alongside Samuel L. 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That tension extends to the audience who watches as this Sword of Damocles threatens to fall at any time, regardless of how well they know Dickens' original story. So it's to the Present we go. A one-stop shop for all things video games. If you're looking for a laugh, Netflix's new releases have you covered this month. Kevin is Screen Rant’s TV Editor. 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Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story gets the grim, Peaky Blinders treatment. That's dark stuff, intentionally so, and it's done to shock Scrooge out of his complacency and bring him face to face with his awful past in the hopes that he might repent. FX’s version of A Christmas Carol is hideous, hollow and Woke. The Ghost of Christmas Past is played with great intensity by Andy Serkis, while the Ghost of Christmas Present is played by Peaky Blinders alum Charlotte Riley, and the Ghost of Christmas Future is represented by a mute (garishly mute) Jason Flemyng (Pennyworth). More purchase options. The acting is excellent and there is a very clear message about greed and its effects. TV-NR. I watched this movie anyway and really liked it. FX’s A Christmas Carol is based on Dickens’ iconic ghost story. I appreciate its exploration of just how dark a 19th century Scrooge could have gone; I actually applaud this version for bringing some rawness and grit to a story that's become somewhat sanitized in popular adaptations to date. Now, Knight has to take that idea to extremes. Here, along with director Nick Murphy (The Hot Zone), Knight aims to use his three-hour runtime to engage in a little (okay, a lot of) analysis of the notorious miser, digging into the various past traumas and psychological underpinnings of his contempt for humanity, something that extends to his employee, Bob Cratchet (Joe Alwyn) and his family, Mary (Vinette Robinson), Belinda (Tiarna Williams), and, of course, Tiny Tim (Lenny Rush). 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Knight's adaptation of A Christmas Carol doesn't quite go to this nihilistic extreme, but it gets damn close. This movie presents a more authentic depiction of mid-19th century London than past versions and it certainly isn't candy-coated. See the darker side of Dickens’ classic tale. A Christmas Carol Review: FX Turns “Bah Humbug ” into Dante’s Inferno A CHRISTMAS CAROL -- Pictured: Guy Pearce as Ebenezer Scrooge. From there, it's on to the Ghost of Christmas Future, or the Spirit of Christmases Yet to Come. A Christmas Carol is a dark story, a rather spooky ghost story in large part, but its greatest effect is in illuminating the pain and misery one poor unfortunate soul inflicts on the multitudes around him, and then reflecting that reality back upon him in the hopes of pushing him towards redemption. Broadway Review: 'A Christmas Carol' TV News Roundup: Netflix Sets … That idea in and of itself isn't new; we've seen Scrooge's troubled boyhood days left alone over the holiday break at a boarding school, or suffering in silence at the death of his sister or the heartbreaking dissolution of his romantic relationships. A Christmas Carol First Look. FX and BBC are teaming up for a dark reimagining of the infamous Christmas Carol story starring Ebenezer Scrooge this December. Review: In making the story of Scrooge still more morally bankrupt than it had been before, FX's adaptation loses its balance. Bound in the chains of greed and contempt he forged in life, Marley warns tightfisted Ebenezer that he awaits the same fate if he doesn't change his ways. Author of "The Science of Breaking Bad" from MIT Press | Twitch Affiliate: twitch.tv/drclawmd | Co-host of the Saturday Mourning Cartoons podcast | Community manager for Ironface Studios | Former science freelance writer for Nerdist.com | Former Animation editor, Streaming Content editor for Collider.com | Founder of ATL S.T.E.A.M. CR: Robert Viglasky/FX. But if you’ve been waiting for a dark and intense version of the story that is completely devoid of any fun or holiday cheer, then FX has just the thing for you. The emphasis paid to the spirit’s inducement is much like the prominence of Scrooge’s past, in that it means to simultaneously ground the story while also imbuing one specific character with a heretofore unrealized inclination toward the supernatural. Marley arrives and talks of redemption, but Scrooge refuses a second chance, saying he … Paul Simms FX Comedy Pilot Casts Ari Graynor, Chris Messina in Lead Roles. More from Variety. But it's the Spirits that steal the show, specifically Andy Serkis' bizarro Ghost of Christmas Past, with a twist from Kayvan Novak's Ali Baba, as well as Charlotte Riley pulling double duty as both Scrooge's sister Lottie and her spectral form as the Spirit of Christmas Present (more on that change in a moment), and Jason Flemyng's tight-lipped (and tied-lipped) Ghost of Christmas Future. I threw in the towel when I figured out that Mrs. Cratchit was prostituting herself in Victorian back alleys to buy Tiny Tim medicine. “A Christmas Carol” is expansive with opportunities to view acting in action. A Christmas Carol, review: Guy Pearce’s Scrooge is the best thing about this macabre retelling Brooding new BBC adaptation, from producers Tom Hardy and … [+] Free/FX Networks) BBC/Scott Free/FX Networks. The everlasting idea behind "A Christmas Carol" is that its lessons can radio signal any person in progress, just like a monologue from Mr. Rogers is for all ages, without needing to use gravely serious language. English [CC] Audio languages. A Christmas Carol Review: FX’s Dark Interpretation Attempts To Understand Scrooge FX’s dark and adults-only interpretation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol attempts to offer insight into Ebenezer Scrooge’s deep contempt. English. It's easy to be snarky and to call this the "reboot no one wanted," and though it won't be for everyone and it's definitely not family-friendly fare, FX is at least sticking to its brand, delivering a holiday treat that’s as dark as a lump of coal. And yet, FX and Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight have teamed to bring one to the masses. Pearce's Scrooge is robbed of this. Writer Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Peaky Blinders) and director Nick Murphy (The Awakening) have delivered a dark, violent, and deeply disturbing adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic redemption story A Christmas Carol. Kevin is a member of the TCA. All reviews I read were fairly negative. A Christmas Carol review – twee-free torment-fest is a tonic for our times Stephen Graham as Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. By Kevin Yeoman Published Dec 19, 2019 The plot follows the basic structure of the story - the important components are the same but it is a … These guises work to the story’s advantage, providing context to the source of Scrooge’s pain without relying entirely on Serkis as the sole conduit to Ebenezer’s troubled past. For starters, the cast. A Christmas Carol episode 3 review: Steven Knight rewrites Dickens with a surprising and satisfying finale . He relishes the challenge that Scrooge poses, attempting to force the miserly miscreant to crack by showing him an endless alternating parade of both his happiest and most traumatic moments. It plumbs the depths of darkness to the point that even the usually buoyant Cratchit Family is dragged down with Scrooge. Having watched to … 101. The deep dive into a miserable childhood filled with abuse from both his father and the headmaster at the private school he was forced to attend helps explain Ebenezer’s misanthropy, something he later becomes obsessed with justifying through various experiments testing the limits of goodness and morality in those around him, particularly Mary Cratchet, who, it is revealed, has a special connection to the spirits beset upon Scrooge. That's a missed opportunity that robs the story of its redemptive power. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. George Griffiths Tuesday 24 Dec 2019 10:00 pm. The Australian actor plays Scrooge in FX’s new adaptation of A Christmas Carol that is altogether more grim and ghostly. Buy HD $2.99 . That exploration involves Serkis’ Ghost of Christmas Past taking on a number of different guises, including Scrooge’s father, Franklin (Johnny Harris), and Alibaba (Kayvan Novak, What We Do in the Shadows), the not-so-living embodiment of Ebenezer’s favorite story as a child. But it's here that we get the biggest change to the story so far. Mary Cratchit becoms pivotal. I can’t do a proper review of it because I didn’t watch it all the way to the end. FX's A Christmas Carol certainly brings something new to the tried-and-true story and it's worth a watch for that alone. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington. Thank FX and Tom Hardy - Los Angeles Times While skating on a frozen pond, Tim falls through the ice and freezes to death. Instead, it's another gut punch for Scrooge as his late sister Lottie guides him through the present tragedies on that very Christmas Day. You need both parts for the story to work. Subtitles. December 8, 2019. And one glimpse at some of the promotional materials or trailers, and it was immediately clear this was going to be an adults-only version, with plenty of coarse language and some incredibly dark takes on the likes of Scrooge (Guy Pearce) and Jacob Marley (Stephen Graham), as well as the three ghosts Ebenezer is visited by on his pre-Christmas road to spiritual renewal. To accomplish this, A Christmas Carol spends the vast majority of its time exploring and analyzing Scrooge’s past. Scrooge sees the next day that Cratchit resigns, now aware of what Scrooge did to Mary. (Here's your first hint that Knight's take will simply refuse a celebratory atmosphere in every possible way.) While this results in a somewhat uneven distribution of time between the three ghosts — both Present and Future are remanded to the miniseries’ final hour — the emphasis on backstory nevertheless offers a compelling and fittingly somber explanation for why Scrooge is the way he is. A Christmas Carol is one to watch this Thursday on FX, but comes with a … Murphy takes us from the safety of Scrooge's expansive manor home into the fiery hell that is a factory aflame, its fire running unchecked due to scrimping on safety measures under Scrooge and Marley's watch, or into a collapsing mine shaft that claims the lives of miners and horses alike due to Scrooge and Marley cutting back the timber supply used to shore up the passage. That would be fine if Scrooge was offered the time and opportunity to bounce back in the other direction. Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019 A fresh (though dark) version of Dickens' classic.