Barnes & Noble

William Thackeray’s scathing indictment of 19th-century British society has been rendered on the screen before -- most memorably as Becky Sharp (1935), an early Technicolor film -- but never with the flair Indian director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) brings to this lavishly appointed version. This is the story of Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon): The poor but ambitious daughter of an alcoholic painter, Becky gains access to London’s smart set by dint of self-education and the friendship of upper-class Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai). Steadily ascending the social ladder, Becky weds Rawdon Crawley (James Purefoy), whose family disinherits him for marrying a commoner. That setback might deter most women, but not the fiercely determined Becky, who maintains her lofty ambition and, eventually, suffers for it. At first blush, Witherspoon seems an unlikely choice for this role, but her natural charm and girlish mien make this endearing actress quite convincing as the cunning manipulator whose will and personality enable her to rise above her station. And while Witherspoon anchors the film, Gabriel Byrne, as the enigmatic Lord Steyne, and Bob Hoskins as Pitt Crawley, the shabby peer with whom Becky begins her journey to the top, deliver memorable character turns. Nair occasionally drifts from the story’s focal point, lavishing footage on colorful but relatively minor figures in Thackeray’s novel, but she captures both the essence of his biting satire and the flavor of the period with a perspicacity that’s unusual in contemporary filmmakers. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

William Makepeace Thackeray's witty assessment of the British class system, as seen through the experiences of one young woman, is brought to the screen with some serious star power in this period comedy drama. Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) is a bright and ambitious girl born to a poor British family. Becky is determined to make something of herself however she can, and after accepting a job as a nanny for the children of the powerful and aristocratic Sir Pitt Crawley (Bob Hoskins), she wastes no time ingratiating herself with the family. Pretty Becky catches the eye of Crawley's handsome and eligible son Rawdon (James Purefoy), and becomes chummy with sharp-tongued Aunt Matilda (Eileen Atkins). Between the two of them, Becky is introduced to London's most exclusive social circle, where she becomes re-acquainted with Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai), a former school chum who is amused by Becky's efforts to scale the ladder of social influence. Becky weds Rawdon, but following initial happiness, the social and economic stability she dreamed of begins to collapse when he begins drowning his troubles in gambling and drink, and soon she turns to the powerful Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne) for support. Meanwhile, Amelia's fortunes fall even harder following the death of her husband. Vanity Fair was directed by Mira Nair, who enjoyed a surprise international success with 2002's Monsoon Wedding. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 025192042737
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Time: 2:20:00
• Sales Rank: 32,568