Bound by Reese Witherspoon’s steely performance and directed with flair by Mira Nair, this was an intensly enjoyable film. Partially because I was waiting for the female character to get the smackdown, as 19th centrury female characters who do not hew to the strictures of society usually do. But maybe Thackeray was ahead of his time or the ending was tweaked,* and either way, I enjoyed it.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home
*And now I’ve read the synopsis and I see the ending was tweaked. But to good effect, I think.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2004/vanity_fair.html
I think? I have seen this. I feel like I watched a lot of period dramas and remakes back and the day! I like your new take on it.
I feel like you might have prioritized it due to Reese.
I feel like I would have a hard time getting behind Reese Witherspoon as a 19th century woman. Do you know what I mean? She seems so modern. That was one of the problems I had with Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice. She doesn’t come across as an early 19th century woman. (I do like that version, it’s just something that niggles at me whenever I watch it.)
The character is pretty steely, so it worked for me.