By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: .75 cats
Director: Mira Nair
Starring: Gabriel Byrne | Geraldine McEwan | James Purefoy | Jonathan Rhys-Meyers | Reese Witherspoon | Rhys Ifans
Country: united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2004
Running time: 137
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241025/combined
Diane says: “Yuk. Reese Witherspoon is a bad choice for the lead here–she really can’t carry it. Music is too heavy; scenes surprisingly clichéd; Nair’s liberties with the book to emphasize the India element (e.g., belly-dancing replaces a game of charades) go down badly. Eileen Atkins (Matilda Crawley) and Jim Broadbent (Mr. Osborne) provide relief for the discerning viewer. At least now I know the basic storyline of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. 1 cat.”
Hilary says: “Why, Mira Nair, why did you cast Reese Witherspoon as Becky Sharpe?
“A few items in the plus column, but not enough to justify spending three hours of your life on it: gorgeous costumes, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers perfectly cast as a dashing rake, Rhys Ifans for once not playing a buffoon, Geraldine McEwan, last seen as THE MAGDALENE SISTERS’ sadistic Mother Superior, as simpering old biddy Lady Southdown, and ever-reliable Jim Broadbent.
“Stay home and read the book.”
Marilyn says: “Please, it was awful. Half cat for the costumes”