Vanity Fair

Boy, that Thackeray sure knew how to skewer the upper class. The target gets all it deserves, but one must wonder, would such a story as this exist at all except for the very noble class that the author despises? Probably not. Nevertheless, we benefit from that conundrum in the form of Reese Witherspoon, who makes a fabulous Becky Sharp and keeps the reels rolling, and the viewer's attention firmly where it should be. That, a well-crafted story, and a picture perfect presentation, make this a successful venture.