Vanity Fair (2004) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Vanity Fair (2004) |
| Director | Mira Nair |
| Screenplay Writer | Matthew Faulk, Mark Skeet, Julian Fellowes |
| Based on Novel by | William Makepeace Thackeray (Vanity Fair) |
| Lead Actors | Reese Witherspoon, Jonathan Rhys Meyers |
| Cast | Reese Witherspoon, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, James Purefoy, Romola Garai, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Gabriel Byrne |
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Historical |
| Release Date | September 1, 2004 (United States) |
| Duration | 2h 21m (141 minutes) |
| Budget | ~$23 million |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States, United Kingdom, India |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$19.4 million |
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Summary
All’s Fair (zing!) in love and war, as young Becky Sharp (Witherspoon) grows up poor in London, but proceeds to defy convention by ascending the social ladder. Sharp says goodbye to her impoverished background alongside her best friend, Amelia, finding romance and adventure along the way.
Review
This flick is what they call “historical fiction.” As in a fictional story that is based in a different historical era. Aptly titled, when you stop and think about it, Vanity Fair portrays a group of icy aristocratic characters with ulterior motives. Set centuries ago in London, the world of Becky Sharp is one big chess game. The opponent in this perpetual game is poverty, and marriage/family provide some of the more critical moves. So to speak. Drama and myriad moral dilemmas ensue as Becky struggles to balance true love with her efforts to play the game – and gain the recognition of an affluent upper class.
Witherspoon is both cute and believable in her complex role. The rest of the cast, particularly the older men and women whom she must impress, are very much the crotchety old Brits one would expect in a period pic. Some great scenery too. Had I stayed awake for the last hour and 15 minutes, I might be able to comment on what happens to our Fair (zing!) heroine. Bottom line, it was a snooze fest. Just not that captivating unless you are 1) in love with Witherspoon 2) a female. As much as this one will jump off the shelf at you during your next trip to the video store, be strong. Resist temptation, men.
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