Following his father’s death and the resulting financial hardship for his family, a young man—played by Charlie Hunnam—agrees to a proposition from his affluent relative, Ralph, portrayed by Christopher Plummer. The arrangement involves him journeying north to work as a teacher at the school run by "Wackford Squeers," brought to life with some skill by Jim Broadbent. Squeers is depicted as an abusive figure who inflicts physical punishment and demands money from students and his assistant, “Smike,” played by Jamie Bell. Reaching his limit, the young Nicholas Nickelby retaliates and flees with Smike in search of a life beyond such mistreatment. Simultaneously, Ralph is manipulating Nickelby’s sister, Kate, portrayed by Romola Garai, as part of his business dealings with the menacing "Sir Mulberry Hawk," played by Edward Fox. Will her brother be able to return and prevent something terrible from happening to her? This particular story by Charles Dickens isn't among his strongest; I felt it shifted into a predictable rhythm after an initial thirty minutes or so. The narrative became somewhat undermined by numerous improbable connections, alliances, and dependencies. Anne Hathaway is present as a romantic interest for the protagonist, and brief appearances from Juliet Stevenson as Mrs. Squeers and Sir Tom Courtenay, recently knighted and playing “Noggs,” do contribute some depth to the story. However, despite Hunnam’s good looks, he doesn't quite possess the necessary weight for the role, nor does Plummer fully embody the villainy intended in the source material. The production values are high; the costumes and scenery are well-executed. Yet, I generally prefer adaptations of Dickens’ works to be presented in black and white. Color seems to soften his narratives concerning poverty, cruelty, and exploitation—and that's certainly what happens here.

Source on TMDB