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High-Society Girl; Nair's 'Vanity Fair' offers much to savor.(Movie Review)(Brief Article)
Byline: David Ansen
She's no mere social climber," a character observes of Becky Sharp in Mira Nair's sumptuous condensation of "Vanity Fair." "She's a mountaineer." Scheming, beautiful, seductive and utterly self-serving, Becky--played with great verve and an impeccable English accent by Reese Witherspoon--is one of the most vivacious monsters in 19th-century literature. Her tenacious ascent from orphan to high-society shark allowed novelist William Makepeace Thackeray to cast his shrewd eye on the vanity and duplicity of an entire society.
Some of what Thackeray intended comes through in Nair's literate, well-cast, handsomely shot epic. But Nair and Witherspoon pull back from the ferocity of Thackeray's portrait: they're afraid we won't find Becky Sharp likable enough. Yes, she's the most brilliant, bold and vibrant creature in this social panorama, but she should also be chilling. The movie turns her into a proto-feminist heroine--up to a point. But to do so means ...
- Vanity Fair Shows Mira Nair's Flair for Novelty and "Outsiderism".
- Magazine article from: World and I Galupo, Scott January 1, 2005 700+ words
...fearlessness for Nair to take on a classic...Thackeray's Vanity Fair, an ensemble...inform her movies. Nair is a self-styled...she jumped at Vanity Fair, a project that...and so on," Nair continues. "Vanity Fair was what I read...
- Director Nair rides `Monsoon' to Thackeray's `Vanity Fair'.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire September 3, 2004 700+ words
...notorious husband hunters. Nair's latest film, "Vanity Fair," stars Reese Witherspoon...British literature, Nair discovered "Vanity Fair" when she was 16 and...and Romola Garai. "Vanity Fair" was a book Nair dipped into every few...
- Nair wraps up filming of "Vanity Fair" with Hollywood's Witherspoon.
- News wire article from: Europe Intelligence Wire February 28, 2004 700+ words
...Indian director Mira Nair said she has wrapped up shooting of her film "Vanity Fair", which has Hollywood...state of Rajasthan. Nair, who in 2001 won the...film," she said. "Vanity Fair" is based on William...die Rebecca Sharp. Nair said Witherspoon's...
- Swarthmore College: FILM REVIEW: More cheer at Nair's 'Vanity Fair'.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire September 23, 2004 700+ words
...hero: Yep, that's "Vanity Fair," all right. Judging...The director, Mira Nair, gets a lot of things...human nature. Besides, Nair keeps Becky devilish...problem in translating "Vanity Fair" to the big screen comes...with Becky later on. Nair spices up the stiffness...
- Regally Blonde; While Legally Blonde earned Reese Witherspoon her...
- Magazine article from: Vanity Fair Bennetts, Leslie September 1, 2004 700+ words
...William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair-can all too easily seem more...Gabriel Byrne in the cast of Vanity Fair. "Reese could do anything...Becky Sharp gets up to." This Vanity Fair was directed by Mira Nair, whose previous movies include...
- `Vanity Fair'.
- Newspaper article from: San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA) August 31, 2004 700+ words
...British society, "Vanity Fair." Thackeray...Director Mira Nair has located some...the role. "Vanity Fair" is a costume...England, but Nair has seen to it...garments. In the "Vanity Fair" that Witherspoon and Nair imagine, Becky...
- `Vanity Fair'.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Newman, Bruce September 1, 2004 700+ words
...British society, "Vanity Fair." Thackeray...Director Mira Nair has located some...the role. "Vanity Fair" is a costume...England, but Nair has seen to it...garments. In the "Vanity Fair" that Witherspoon and Nair imagine, Becky...
- U. Massachusetts-Amherst: FILM REVIEW: 'Vanity Fair' a dissapointment while...
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire September 14, 2004 700+ words
...Donaldson While both "Vanity Fair" and "Hero" are both...pleasure of the future. "Vanity Fair," Mira Nair's opulent yet dull...given much to do. "Vanity Fair" rushes from scene...lacks depth and focus. Nair handled a large ensemble...
- Becky's not sharp enough.(Vanity Fair)(Movie Review)
- Magazine article from: Variety McCarthy, Todd August 30, 2004 700+ words
VANITY FAIR Directed by Mira Nair Starring: Reese Witherspoon...Atkins and Gabriel Byrne VANITY FAIR (U.S.-U.K...would be hard to make "Vanity Fair" a dull affair. Just to make sure, Nair has juiced it up with...
- Vanity Fair.(Movie Review)
- Magazine article from: Daily Variety McCarthy, Todd August 27, 2004 700+ words
...hands of director Mira Nair William Makepeace Thackeray...herself capably. But Nair's approach never entirely...episodic, making this "Vanity Fair" more a collection of...would be hard to make "Vanity Fair" a dull affair. Just to make sure, Nair has juiced it up with...
Source: HighBeam Research, High-Society Girl; Nair's 'Vanity Fair' offers much to savor.(Movie...