The Great Gilly Hopkins – Film Review

Adapting a beloved children’s novel into a film is always a tricky proposition, especially when the original book carries a timeless emotional weight. Such is the challenge with The Great Gilly Hopkins, a film directed by Stephen Herek and based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Katherine Paterson. With a star-studded cast, including Sophie Nélisse, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, and Julia Stiles, the film attempts to bring the novel’s coming-of-age story to life while maintaining its themes of love, belonging, and redemption. However, while The Great Gilly Hopkins is an earnest and often heartfelt adaptation, it ultimately falls into the trap of being a competent yet uninspired take on its source material.

The film follows Gilly Hopkins (Sophie Nélisse), a tough and defiant 12-year-old foster child who has bounced from home to home, growing increasingly cynical and rebellious with each placement. Gilly clings to the hope that her birth mother, Courtney (Julia Stiles), will one day come to rescue her. When Gilly is placed with the warm and kind-hearted Maime Trotter (Kathy Bates), she initially resists any form of connection, seeing her new foster home as just another temporary stop.

Determined to escape and reunite with her mother, Gilly concocts a plan that backfires, forcing her to confront the reality of her situation. Along the way, she forms an unexpected bond with Maime, her blind and gentle neighbor Mr. Randolph (Bill Cobbs), and her shy but sweet foster brother William Ernest (Zachary Hernandez). As the film progresses, Gilly’s tough exterior begins to soften, but just as she starts to settle into her new life, a twist of fate forces her to face the painful truth about her past and future.

One of the film’s strongest elements is its cast, particularly Kathy Bates as Maime Trotter. Bates delivers a warm, nurturing performance that captures the essence of Maime’s unwavering kindness and patience. She brings much-needed depth to a character that could have easily been reduced to a one-note saintly figure. Her interactions with Gilly feel authentic, oscillating between exasperation and deep, unconditional love.

Sophie Nélisse, best known for her role in The Book Thief and Yellowjackets, does a commendable job portraying Gilly’s tough, defiant nature. However, her performance sometimes lacks the raw emotional complexity that made the book’s Gilly such a compelling protagonist. While Nélisse captures the character’s sharp wit and rebellious streak, there are moments where her performance feels too restrained, missing the underlying vulnerability that makes Gilly’s transformation so impactful.

Glenn Close, in a brief but pivotal role as Gilly’s grandmother, Nonnie, provides a restrained yet effective performance. Julia Stiles, as Gilly’s absent mother Courtney, makes the most of her limited screen time, portraying a character whose neglectful nature is masked by an air of free-spirited detachment. Bill Cobbs and Octavia Spencer round out the supporting cast with reliable performances, adding warmth and depth to their respective roles as Mr. Randolph and Gilly’s schoolteacher, Miss Harris.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its faithfulness to the novel’s central themes. The Great Gilly Hopkins explores complex issues of abandonment, self-worth, and the definition of family. It doesn’t shy away from the emotional struggles of foster children, and the story ultimately conveys a powerful message about love and acceptance. The film’s strongest moments come when it allows its characters to interact organically, particularly in the developing relationship between Gilly and Maime.

The cinematography and setting help establish a warm, homey atmosphere that contrasts with Gilly’s initial resistance to her new life. The color palette leans toward earthy tones, reinforcing the theme of stability and belonging. The score, while somewhat conventional, supports the film’s emotional beats without overpowering them.

While the film benefits from strong performances and a heartfelt story, it suffers from an overly safe and predictable approach. One of the novel’s strengths is its raw and sometimes harsh portrayal of Gilly’s struggles, but the film often dilutes these elements, making the adaptation feel more sanitized. Certain scenes that should carry significant emotional weight—such as Gilly’s realization about her mother—are rushed or underdeveloped, preventing the story from fully resonating with the audience.

The film’s pacing also presents issues. While the book takes its time exploring Gilly’s transformation, the movie compresses her character arc, making her change of heart feel somewhat abrupt. Her shift from a rebellious, closed-off child to someone capable of love and connection is a central theme, yet the film doesn’t give this transition enough space to breathe.

Another drawback is the dialogue, which occasionally leans toward being too on-the-nose. Instead of allowing emotions to unfold naturally, some scenes rely on exposition-heavy conversations that spell out the film’s themes rather than showing them through action and interaction. This results in a lack of subtlety that prevents the film from reaching its full emotional potential.

Katherine Paterson’s novel is widely regarded as a poignant and emotionally complex exploration of foster care and belonging. While the film stays relatively true to the book’s plot, it simplifies certain aspects, particularly Gilly’s internal struggles. In the book, Gilly’s transformation is gradual and filled with internal conflict, whereas the film accelerates this change, making it feel less earned.

Additionally, some of the novel’s darker elements are softened for the screen. Gilly’s initial cruelty and manipulative tendencies are toned down, likely to make her more sympathetic from the outset. While this decision makes sense for a family-friendly film, it also diminishes the impact of her eventual redemption.

The Great Gilly Hopkins is a well-meaning and competently made film, even if it lacks the depth and emotional nuance that made the novel so powerful. While the performances, particularly those of Kathy Bates and Glenn Close, add layers of warmth and sincerity, the film’s overly safe and predictable approach prevents it from being truly memorable.

For audiences unfamiliar with the book, the film serves as a decent, family-friendly drama with valuable messages about love and acceptance. However, for fans of Katherine Paterson’s novel, this adaptation may feel like a missed opportunity to fully capture the raw emotional depth of Gilly’s journey. In the end, The Great Gilly Hopkins is a serviceable but ultimately unremarkable adaptation that falls short of leaving a lasting impact.