Vanity Fair (2004)

REVIEW
Witherspoon strives to prove she is no dumb blonde in this big-screen adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel. Determined to climb the English social ladder in the early years of the 19th century, young Becky Sharp vows to defeat her Cinderella-compared upbringing and flee from poverty whether it be working as a governess or just finding the right man to marry. While Becky is more conniving and a shrewd temptress in the novel, Witherspoon’s portrayal (more so to be blamed on the three screenwriters it took to adapt the fiction) is always more seductive and sweet -– she is not particularly likable, but she is no villainess, either. As expected of the genre, Vanity Fair looks great, with colorful cinematography and Oscar-worthy costume and art design. The cast is sublime as each performance is delivered with eloquence. Unfortunately, this doesn't make up for the film's slow pace and uneven narrative. At least director Nair has made damn sure everything looks great.