Great Expectations is a 1998 American romantic drama film. It was release on January 30, 1998. A contemporary film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1861 novel of the same name, co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hank Azaria, Robert De Niro, Anne Bancroft and Chris Cooper.
It is known for having moved the setting of the original novel from 1812-1827 London to 1990s New York. The film is an abridged modernization of Dickens‘s 1861 novel, with the hero’s name having been changed from Pip to Finn, and the characters of Miss Havisham having been renamed Nora Dinsmoor and Abel Magwitch being renamed to Arthur Lustig. The film received mixed reviews.
The soundtrack also includes songs by popular artists such as Pulp, Scott Weiland, Iggy Pop, Chris Cornell and The Verve Pipe. Duncan Sheik’s contribution, the song Wishful Thinking, was released as a single from the soundtrack and Poe’s “Today” was released as a promo.
The film’s score was written by Scottish composer Patrick Doyle, a veteran of many literary adaptations and frequent collaborator of Kenneth Branagh, and featured classical guitarist John Williams.
Several variations of the song Bésame Mucho are heard throughout the film. The primary recording, however, and the version released on the soundtrack, is performed by Cesaria Evora.
The soundtrack also featured the breakthrough single Life in Mono, which became a major hit, charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
Tracklist:
- Finn (Intro) – Instrumental Vocalization by Tori Amos
- Siren – Performed by Tori Amos
- Life in Mono – Performed by Mono
- Sunshower – Performed by Chris Cornell
- Resignation – Performed by Reef
- Like a Friend – Performed by Pulp
- Wishful Thinking – Performed by Duncan Sheik
- Today – Performed by Poe
- Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down – Performed by Scott Weiland
- Her Ornament – Performed by the Verve Pipe
- Walk This Earth Alone – Performed by Lauren Christy
- Breakable – Performed by Fisher
- Success – Performed by Iggy Pop
- Slave – Performed by David Garza
- Uncle John’s Band – Performed by the Grateful Dead
- Besame Mucho – Performed by Cesária Évora