Vanity Fair (2004)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Mira Nair

Writers:

Matthew Faulk (screenplay) &
Mark Skeet (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In a time of social climbers, Becky Sharp is a mountaineer.

Plot:

Growing up poor in London, Becky Sharp (Witherspoon) defies her poverty-stricken background and ascends the social ladder alongside her best friend, Amelia.

Plot Keywords:

India | Aristocrat | Governess | Painter | Painting

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Gabriel Byrne	...	The Marquess of Steyne
Angelica Mandy	...	Young Becky Sharp
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Francis Sharp (as Roger Lloyd Pack)
Ruth Sheen	...	Miss Pinkerton
Kate Fleetwood	...	Miss Pinkerton's Crone
Reese Witherspoon	...	Becky Sharp
Lillete Dubey	...	Ms. Green (as Lillette Dubey)
Romola Garai	...	Amelia Sedley
Tony Maudsley	...	Joseph Sedley
Deborah Findlay	...	Mrs. Mary Sedley
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Mr. Sedley
Paul Bazely	...	Biju
Rhys Ifans	...	William Dobbin
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	George Osborne
Charlie Beall	...	Gambler

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality/partial nudity and a brief violent image.

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-7 | Hungary:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:10 | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia) | Germany:6 | Ireland:12 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Shot in 55 days

Goofs:

Continuity: The arrangement and number of gold jewels around Becky's eyes change between shots

Quotes:

Miss Matilda Crawley: Keep your toadying until I get to a fire. You can suck up all you wish once I'm warm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

Over the Mountains/The Great Adventurer

Ironically, 'Vanity Fair' is a very fitting title for this inexpressive and characterless remake of a true classic.

I had the somewhat unfortunate job of accompanying two teenage girls to my viewing of Vanity Fair. As any cinema attendee will know, there is nothing more irritating then two talkative teens, with the attention span of goldfish, chatting throughout the entire film. All their interest was well gone by the time Gabriel Byrne strutted onto the screen, and although it pains me to admit it, my interest had slowly subsided with theirs.

Although beautiful shots, skillful performances and magnificently designed sets came bountiful, there was still one vast absence that was so dearly missed. This was the charm, the charisma and the fascination that connects the audience with the characters. The scenes didn't fuse well and felt shabbily thrown together. Acknowledged events came as surprises and characters lost their appeal and distinctiveness. Becky Sharp, played by Reese Witherspoon, became aggravating and tedious, and any sympathy, understanding or patience for that matter, was lost to a plot so drawn and witless, it made 'Charlie's angels' seem thought provoking.

The charm and the magic of the William Makepeace Thackeray novel were forgotten in this drawn and soulless remake of a classic. Worth the watch for the costumes and set alone, but expect nothing more.