Vanity Fair (2004)

My Review

“Vanity Fair” is a period piece movie following Becky Sharp, a witty, lower class woman in early 19th century England, who uses her charm and sexuality to climb the social ladder. This film covers many of her thrills, chills, and spills, sloppily directed by Mira Nair (“Mississippi Masala” 1991) from a terrible, chatty, and shallow screenplay by Julian Fellowes, Matthew Faulk, and Mark Skeet. It is based on the 1847 novel by William Makepeace Thackery.

The cast is headed by Reese Witherspoon in the lead role. This is the typical part for Witherspoon as she usually delivers similar mediocre performances in big budget pictures such as “Vanity Fair.” Co-stars include Eileen Atkins, Jim Broadbent, Gabriel Byrne, Bob Hoskins, Rhys Ifans, Romola Garai, and Richard McCabe as King George IV. The unwatchable snoozer was a big flop at the box office for Granada Productions, Focus Features, and Universal Pictures. It was filmed on location in England.