The Miracle Worker (2000)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Best movie ever!

Absolutely Fantastic

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Of course, everyone has their own opinion about the best version of this film. To me, the 1962 version is the best. Anne Bancroft's performance as Anne Sullivan is nuanced and heartrending. Patty Duke manages to play a feral but brilliant Helen, who expresses rage, joy, fear, and sorrow without language. Even beyond those two, the cast is excellent. Kate is a loving mother, a picture of Southern gentlewomanhood. Captain Keller is the overbearing, short-tempered, but ultimately loving father. James is the contentious son who constantly challenges his father. And the audience can see them slowly coming apart at the seams as their pity for Helen turns her into their lord and master. I was surprised, watching the 1979 version, how much Patty Duke seemed to pale in comparison to Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan. She was still good, but somehow, there was less passion. Less of the obstinance and fury at the world that seemed to drive Bancroft's Sullivan. And Melissa Gilbert seemed afraid to emote as much as Duke had as Helen. In general, the cast seemed less sure of their parts, and much less subtle. However, both the 1962 and 1979 versions passed the ultimate test: when Anne Sullivan screamed, "She knows!" I wept. ...That I did not cry at the 2000 remake is the greatest of its failures, and I believe it the fault of the script's Disneyfication. All in all, the Disney script lacked the subtlety and nuance of the original. I will the give the benefit of the doubt to the actors involved, but their characters were not what I believe they were supposed to be, having read the original script. By the time they write to Perkins, the original play describes Kate as being worn and aged by her love for her wild, undisciplined daughter. This Kate is too earnest and optimistic. There is not enough desperation in her. I would say the same of Captain Keller, though I did appreciate that they included the scene where he waits with Helen for Kate to come back with Anne, and he laments the fact that Helen doesn't know he's her father. I think my biggest character complaint in this version is James. Previous versions of James were sympathetic in their way. He is the son of a forgotten mother, and his little sister is spoiled and pitied while he is constantly chided, no matter what he says or does. ...In this version, he seems cruel and vindictive.All in all, this version never captures the emotion and weight of the original.

This is a wonderful film and the best version of the Miracle Worker I've seen by far. Hallie Kate Eisenberg is a wonderful actress, cute and unlike the Olsen Twins, actually seems to study and rehearse her lines and role. She was extremely convincing, though perhaps a little too tame at times, in her role as young Helen Keller. I hope there are to be good things in store for her in the future!

At first it might not have seemed like such a bad idea to remake this movie again. Afterall the story of Annie Sullivan teaching Helen Keller communication is timeless and the 1979 version does prove that remakes can still work. So, if they had to do another one two decades later, why cast the Pepsi Girl in the coveted role as Helen?? I read a review that said her emotionless performance should be nicknamed "Frankenkeller", because she does indeed walk around like a robot! The only good thing about her performance is that she doesn't talk in the film! She is also too graceful a Helen. Patty Duke, and even Melissa Gilbert had a more wild animal like energy to their performances, while Ms. Pepsi seems bored as Helen (or is it that we are just bored at watching her? Would someone give her a Pepsi, please?? I was totally shocked that she didn't start singing at the pivotal water pump scene "The Joy of Wa-Wa"! However, she didn't say anything at all! Where is the emotional wallup that that scene has always brought to us?!On some postive notes: The sets are grand and so are the costumes. Ms. Allison's performance as young fiest Sullivan can almost stand proudly besides Anne Bancroft's Oscar-winning turn as Anne Sullivan and Patty Duke's Emmy-winning interpretation of her. Do yourself a favor and watch the 1962 and 79 versions, ones that didn't rape such a gorgeous tale. My score: 3

The fact that Helen Keller would be played by that annoying girl in those ubiquitous Pepsi commercials did not give me much hope for this television remake of the classic tale. I'm happy to report that I found myself very pleasantly surprised. Hallie Kate Eisenberg did, in fact, create a Helen with both subtlety and nuance. As well, Alison Elliot's portrayal of Annie Sullivan showed both grace and intelligent restraint. This relatively gentle production never recreates the dense and claustrophobic tragedy of the 1962 movie (starring Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft) and thus the 'awakening' lacks the same glorious contrast. However, it does remain true to the spirit of the story and Helen's amazing triumph will no doubt continue to inspire a whole new generation.