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Vanity Fair

PG-13 Released Sep 1, 2004 2h 20m Drama List
51% Tomatometer 168 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Born to poor parents, Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) has always aspired to be a member of England's upper classes. Leaving her boarding school and best friend, Amelia (Romola Garai), behind, Becky associates herself with the Crawleys, eventually falling in love with their son, Rawdon (James Purefoy). The marriage is happy at first, but deteriorates when Rawdon's fortune dwindles. Becky is then supported by the lecherous Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne), whose motives are less than pure.
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Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

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Critics Consensus

A more likable Becky Sharp makes for a less interesting movie.

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Critics Reviews

View All (168) Critics Reviews
Anne Cohen Refinery29 Olivia Cooke's interpretation is probably the best Becky Sharp yet: She's intensely charismatic, with a little more bite, and toes the line between being faithful to the book and teasing out more modern feminist themes a little more smoothly. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek This Vanity Fair delights the eye, but Nair may be too much the humanist for her own good: she hasn't the instinct for the kill. Mar 13, 2018 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Lovely literary adaptation with class issues, battle scenes. Rated: 3/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed The film is one that gains from being viewed multiple times over the years and that has aged beautifully well. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 19, 2022 Full Review B.L. Panther The Spool The brilliance of Nair's vision is how she takes the images, references, and suggestions of India latent in the original text and brings them to the ultimate fore. Feb 4, 2021 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Directed by Mira Nair, although sumptuous in scope thanks to the sets and costumes, the film is convoluted and confusing. Nov 3, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Quinton B I came specifically to give this film a great review I haven't read the book so I can't compare that but I thought the film fabulous. I can't believe it's such low score. The film is packed with stars delivering excellent cameos. I loved the films settings where it seems no expense was spared. Great story well told Loved it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Reese Witherspoon was magnificent - terrific movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Extremely difficult to follow, couldn't keep track of the different characters. The end is less than satisfying. Overall, a boring movie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A Movie Without a Hero. The novel is deconstructionist and self aware - and the movie follows suit. I think this confuses some who watch it. The novel is literally subtitled "A Novel without a Hero". You have to enjoy the group of characters as a whole, rather than side with any individual - one chapter's protagonist is the next chapter's antagonist; one chapter's unfortunate is the next chapter's hapless stooge. When adapting a novel, especially a long novel it is necessary lose a lot of subplots whilst keeping the main plot comprehensible and such changes were in keeping. The style of the movie as a whole picked up on Thackerey's humour and cynicism pretty well. The hints of melodrama in amongst the character driven plot and the visible hand of the author are all of Thackerey's doing. The characters' baser instincts are held up for all to see. I enjoyed the movie greatly. In fact I enjoyed it so much I went and read the book. It is a shame to see critics laying into it. I enjoyed the film before reading the book and I enjoyed it afterwards, so it is by no means a travesty more of a celluloid reflection. Vanity Fair is a great book... this is perhaps not a great film, but it is a very good film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review steve d An interesting adaptation that's performances make up for some of the tweaks to the story. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member It’s a guilty pleasure not to be taken too seriously. The unbearable lightness of being comes to mind while watching the ending. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/25/19 Full Review Read all reviews
Vanity Fair

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Cast & Crew

Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Belly-Dancing Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Belly-Dancing 2:19 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Rawdon Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Rawdon 2:24 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Amelia & William Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Amelia & William 1:56 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cheating Husband Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cheating Husband 2:31 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - I'll Never Forgive You Vanity Fair: Official Clip - I'll Never Forgive You 2:00 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cowardly, Villainous Liar Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cowardly, Villainous Liar 3:16 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Preparing For War Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Preparing For War 1:59 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Jos Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Jos 2:16 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - A False Note Vanity Fair: Official Clip - A False Note 1:05 Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal 2:56 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Born to poor parents, Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) has always aspired to be a member of England's upper classes. Leaving her boarding school and best friend, Amelia (Romola Garai), behind, Becky associates herself with the Crawleys, eventually falling in love with their son, Rawdon (James Purefoy). The marriage is happy at first, but deteriorates when Rawdon's fortune dwindles. Becky is then supported by the lecherous Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne), whose motives are less than pure.
Director
Mira Nair
Producer
Janette Day, Donna Gigliotti, Lydia Dean Pilcher
Screenwriter
Matthew Faulk, Mark Skeet, Julian Fellowes
Distributor
Focus Features, Gramercy Pictures
Production Co
USA Films, Focus Features
Rating
PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Brief Violent Images|Some Sensuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.1M
Runtime
2h 20m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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