“Vanity Fair” (Focus Films)
William Makepeace Thackery’s novel VANITY FAIR has been the source for more than one film, but here it is one more time. This version is directed by Mira Nair and stars Reese Witherspoon as social climber Becky Sharp. The story of Becky and her rise and fall is epic in its telling and sweeping in its scope, but minimal in its entertainment value.
Becky is the daughter of a starving artist. Her mother is dead and when her father dies she is sent to live in an orphanage. Little is seen of her life there except when she leaves. She goes home with her best friend Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai) until she can take up residence with the family of Sir Pitt Crawley (Bob Hoskins) as the governess to his two children.
Later she meets Mr. Crawley’s sister, the formidable Matilda (Eileen Atkins). Matilda takes a liking to Becky and takes her to London. There she meets Matilda’s nephew Rawdon (James Purefoy) and falls in love. But this love outrages Matilda and the couple are cast out on their own. Now begins Becky’s true fight to gain acceptance into high society.
The problem with the movie is Reese Witherspoon. She is supposed to be a Scarlett O’Hara type woman but she slides into Melanie Wilkes mode at the slightest hint that someone is upset. There is far too little spit and vinegar in her soul to be convincing as the devious Becky.
Eileen Atkins is wonderful as the eccentric Matilda and Bob Hoskins has some good moments as the charitable Mr. Crawley. Romola Garai looks so much like a young Debra Winger it is disconcerting. Rhys Ifans makes an impact as a long-suffering suitor to Amelia.
For a movie that spans decades none of the characters seem to age. Witherspoon looks the same at the end of the movie as she did when the film began. And so do most of the other actors. Life was hard during the times of the film but none of it shows on the faces of these characters.
The movie is rated PG-13 for brief nudity and some sexual situations.
What should have been a biting commentary on the social scene during the Napoleonic Wars has been reduced to an episodic soap opera about a fairly sweet young woman and the perils she endures. Reese Witherspoon has star power but she is not the right star for this role.
I scored “Vanity Fair” a preening 5 out of 10.
