Director:
Mira Nair

Cast:
Reese Witherspoon
Gabriel Byrne
Romola Garai
Rhys Ifans

Official URL:

http://www.vanityfairmovie.com

Country: USA
Rating: R
Studio Name: Focus Features
Running Time: 2 hr 20 mins
Release Date: September 1, 2004

Critics's Rating:
(2 Reels) 

September 1, 2004

By Veronica Mixon

Mira Nair’s Vanity Fair is no Merchant and Ivory gleaming tribute to William Makepeace Thackeray’s 19th century novel about scheming rise of the wily Becky Sharpe. No, instead we’re treated to a darker, gritty period piece that reminds us that they world was a lot colder, crueler and dirtier than we imagined. At first, I thought this is a good thing because Nair’s creation recognizes the kind of characters that existed at the time, not just the kind of characters, we imagine existed. But, Nair’s Becky is too modern and despite Reese Witherspoon’s best foot forward, Vanity Fair isn’t as good as one would’ve hope.

After being orphaned, Becky (Witherspoon) escapes the boarding school as soon as possible with her friend Amelia (Romola Garai). The daughter of an artist and French dancer, Becky is prepared to work as a governess but she’s also determined to marry well. After being snubbed by Amelia’s fiancé, George Osborne (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Becky takes a post with a provincial aristocratic family, the Crawleys. What’s hysterical about the aristocracy that Nair presents is the absolute horror of the country gentry who live in a rambling shack of a castle with everything broken down and dust-covered. The Lord of the manor (Bob Hoskins) is sweet but this post is a big disappointment to Becky until the city dowager comes to visit. She takes a liking to Becky and off they go to London where Becky secretly marries and catches the eye of a mysterious and lecherous Steyne (Gabriel Bryne).

India-born Mira Nair’s best known insightful documentaries and features, Monsoon Wedding and Mississippi Masala, which reflect complexities Indian life. There is a brilliant splash of India in Vanity Fair too and it’s dazzling. Witherspoon is awesome in a sexy, Indian dance number. But, Nair’s Becky is too much of a modern feminist rather than a desperate girl trying to make her way in 19th century England. Reese Witherspoon, who became a major comic star in Legally Blonde and Sweet Alabama, tries hard to establish herself as a dramatic actress. She adequate but this isn’t the best feature to display her talents. Despite some amusing characters, Vanity Fair should have been a first-rate production in Mira Nair’s hands.

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