Review of Vanity Fair (2004) by Steve S — 24 Mar 2010
*** (out of four).
A fairly successful screen version of the celebrated novel by William Makepeace Thackeray. It is commendable that the screenwriter and director didn't choose to make the main character a total likeable person. To me this adds more dimension to the part.
Rebecca Sharp, played by Reese Witherspoon, has been raised in poverty in early 19th centeury Britain. She longs for acceptance in society and will do whatever she must to rise in the ranks. She takes a job as a governess with a respectable family and then finds her chance to move to London.
The themes of acceptance, social climbing, and moral values holds up well today. My biggest complaint with the movie is that I'm not sure that Reese Witherspoon was the best person to play Rebecca. She occassionally gives a decent performance, but she comes across as too 21st century. A different lead may have improved the overall movie.
This review of Vanity Fair (2004) was written by Steve S on 24 Mar 2010.
Vanity Fair has generally received mixed reviews.
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