Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1572 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-16
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 141 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The corsets and high waists of the 19th century meet the lush colors and visual splendor of India in Vanity Fair, a classic novel translated into modern celluloid by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding). The very contemporary Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, Election) at first seems to hit the wrong note as Becky Sharp, an orphaned girl who rises to the heights of society using her quick wits and feminine wiles. But as Vanity Fair unfolds, the movie's tone embraces both period decor and modern attitudes, searching for a bridge that will carry us more deeply into a different time. It isn't wholly successful--the movie's end wraps things up awkwardly--but some scenes achieve a surprising and vivid immediacy, in particular one in which Becky's gambler husband (elegant James Purefoy) catalogues his worth for her before going off to the Napoleonic battlefields; love and pragmatism fuse with heartbreaking results. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Reese Witherspoon is surprisingly effective as Becky Sharp in Mira Nair's lush adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel of Victorian England, Vanity Fair. Nair, known for such films as Salaam Bombay! Mississippi Masala, and Monsoon Wedding, tells the compelling story of a young orphan girl, Sharp, who attempts to rise above her station in very class-conscious British society. Sharp enters this very rich and rigid world as a governess who captures the heart of Rawdon Crawley (James Purefoy), who chooses love over the family fortune, a financial decision that could potentially doom the relationship. Meanwhile, her best friend, Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai), lets true love slip right through her fingers. As war rages on against Napoleon and the French, Sharp continues her ascension, though she's met by naysayers and gossipmongers every step of the way. Nair has put together a terrific cast, including Gabriel Byrne, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Douglas Hodge, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, and Rhys Ifans. Natasha Little, who played Becky Sharp in a 1999 BBC miniseries, appears here as Lady Jane, and Eileen Atkins is hysterical as Miss Matilda Crawley. Splendid costumes, beautiful locations (including Hampton Court Gardens and India), high-quality acting, and gorgeous music combine to make this a worthy version of a classic tale about a feminist ahead of her time.

Customer Reviews

Period piece
It shows the vanity and hypocrisy of England 200 years ago. Strange but becky seemed to have the secret of eternal youth never ageing in the film once she was adult. Nice to have no bad language nor explicit sex.

Pick the actor, not the accent ...
It's easy to be cynical of a film whose main protagonist is an American playing a character in English literature, and it is also very easy to criticise their performance. Before watching this film I did wonder whether Reese Witherspoon was merely cast in the role of Becky Sharpe in order to bolster the film's budget. And then I thought imagine if a Keira Knightly (god forbid) had been cast, and suddenly old Witherspoon didn't seem so bad after all. No one bats an eyelid anymore that Renee Zellweger was cast as Bridget Jones, although I concede her accent is a damn sight more convincing. That being said I think Witherspoon does a rather good job in a role that is at times rather disagreeable. In the film's favour `Vanity Fair' boasts an excellent supporting cast, tribute to the fine acting talent Britain possesses. The sets and the costumes are also extremely lavish and Mira Nair injects some refreshing nods to Bollywood's use of colour, dance and music. I wholly enjoyed this film despite it being disjointed in places, and I care not a whim for whether it is faithful to the book or not as I haven't read it, and this is a film adaptation after all. However I do intend to read the book now, so if the movie encourages more to read the classics then its alright by me!

Some of the Parts....
This is a highly enjoyable costume drama. Solely as a film it is better than average. As a vehicle for a large number of very skilled actors it is outstanding. Witherspoon is more than competent, delivering the leading role with skill. The rest of the cast also turn in highly entertaining performances. James Purefoy is more than a foil for the Hollywood leading lady, he has merely to twitch his face for us to realise his moral frailty. Bob Hoskins is the the happy curmudgeon, Eileen Atkins thrills as the rich and terrifying aunt, Geraldine McEwan plays the other aunt as court jester (this aunt is much more intelligent than her family assume), Jonathan Rhys Meyers could not be self-absorbed as George Osborne, and Douglas Hodge slums as the apparently dull dutiful son, delivering amusement with looks of mild surprise. Jim Broadbent, as ever, adds great value to proceedings. Gabriel Byrne exudes intent from afar in the first half of the film and is suitably disconcerting as he moves into the foreground in the latter part of the film. And finally Tony Maudsley tops and tails the film as the completely amiable Jos Sedley. Aside from the strong performances the references to India add vitality though there is, as with the Passage to India, a sense of mutual imcomprension in the encounter. The film as a whole makes for fine entertainment. The individual parts are even more interesting.