MinuetEnJazz Reviews

Vanity Fair (2004)

Did Julian Fellowes even READ this book?!?

[3/10 · 20 April 2005]

Wow, I was really looking forward to this film. I wasn't expecting it to measure up to the A&E version, due to the length more than anything. There was a very good cast, fine acting, beautiful sets and costumes...but for crying out loud, this Becky Sharp's character is made up of the facade that the properly-written Becky fools her acquaintances in to believing! This Becky is innocent of manipulation; she honestly cares about the welfare of Amelia from the start, she even seems to want to marry Jos for more than his money and position. She appears to love Rawdon deeply, have no disgust for the very sight of her son. She is not sleeping with Tufto; he only uses her as an interpreter. And what on earth, in this film she has not been leading Steyne on at all. He attacks her unexpectedly. Her declaration, "I am innocent" is the only similarity between the actual story and this film, except that she is not at all innocent in the novel (and is not innocent from beginning to end). She is beloved, kind, compassionate, and guilty of nothing more than her wish to abandon her social class in which she is "but a Governess." She is portrayed as held down by snobs and fellow servants, because she is poor and helpless. This is NOT William Makepeace Thackeray's Becky Sharp.

If you really want to know the brilliant story, and enjoy Thackeray's seething social satire of England in the early 19th century, see the 1998 A&E production, starring the exceptional Natasha Little as Becky (whose talents were underused in this 2004 version, as Lady Jane Sheepshanks).

Vanity Fair is one of the finest and most important novels in the English language, and this film version tried to turn it into Anne of Green Gables. For shame.

Catherine the Great (1995 TV Movie)

Falls short of A&E expectations

[7/10 · 10 January 2005]

Once again, A&E brings us a beautiful looking production. The costumes, sets and, of course, performances by an exceptional cast, are stunning as always. However it seems that the writers were getting a bit tired while working on this one. It lacked the cleverness and vivacity of productions such as Vanity Fair and Pride and Prejudice, and the drama we enjoyed in Horatio and Tess. I was also disappointed to find that the version available in N.America is only 90 minutes long, and includes only Catherine's early reign. If you want to see the entire production you apparently need to get the 3-hour version, available in Germany.

All in all, it is worth watching, if only for the visuals and wonderful acting. Catherine Zeta Jones is brilliant and displays her versatility in this dramatic role. I cannot begin to comment on the equally strong performances of the rest of the cast, being restricted to 1000 characters here, but as I say, certainly worth the watch.