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Movies / On DVD / Bonfire of the Vanities
Bonfire of the Vanities

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Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)

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24 %
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Reviews Counted:29

Fresh:7

Rotten:22

Average Rating:3.8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Brian De Palma (SCARFACE) directed this lavish adaptation of Tom Wolfe's best-selling satirical novel, featuring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis. Hanks stars as Sherman McCoy, a... Brian De Palma (SCARFACE) directed this lavish adaptation of Tom Wolfe's best-selling satirical novel, featuring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis. Hanks stars as Sherman McCoy, a distinctly 1980s brand of wealthy Wall Street wizard who takes a mighty fall from his glitzy lifestyle after he and his mistress (Griffith) put a Bronx youth into a coma via a hit-and-run accident. Alcoholic reporter Peter Fallow (Willis) sees the crime as an opportunity for big headlines, and soon Sherman is the target of every political and media group in the city, including an Al Sharpton-style black leader named Rev. Bacon (John Hancock) and a sleazy D.A. (F. Murray Abraham). SEX IN THE CITY babe Kim Catrall costars as Sherman's long-suffering wife, and Morgan Freeman is the judge who tries to reign in this three-ring media circus of a case. Like the decade it parodies, this film is proudly over the top in its lavishness. It's also filled to overflowing with inspired casting, wildly inventive comedy, and the sort of artistically ambitious tracking shots for which its director is renowned. [More]

Starring: Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman

Starring: Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, F. Murray Abraham, Kim Cattrall, Saul Rubinek, Clifton James, Kevin Dunn, Louis Giambalvo, Kirsten Dunst, Barton Heyman, Donald Moffat, Alan King, Kurt Fuller, Adam LeFevre, Marjorie Monaghan, Emmanuel Xuereb

Director: Brian De Palma

Director: Brian De Palma
Composer: Dave Grusin
Story: Tom Wolfe
Producer: Brian De Palma

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Nov 16, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Bonfire of the Vanities

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety

I thought it was an alright movie. The people that hated it hated it because they loved the book.

comment Comment
05/30/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Destroy this film; watch it only to see a good example of a lousy adaptation.

comment Comment
08/30/02
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

No review available.

comment Comment
11/08/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

comment Comment
04/16/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
10/11/02
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

An interesting failure that's not as bad as its reputation. Speaks a lot of truth, but the tone is too broad.

comment Comment
01/24/06
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

Not even Melanie Griffith in a bra can save this dud

comment Comment
09/17/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

Ugh, what a dog.

comment Comment
09/04/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/10/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Has more embarrassing moments than good ones.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
04/08/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
06/30/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Dreadful screen adaptation of the terrific Tom Wolfe novel. Stands as one of Tom Hanks' worst screen performances.

comment Comment
11/15/02
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

Not as bad as originally thought upon reflection. Somewhat compelling story of media manipulation. Nothing huge, but better than remembered.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

Michael Cristofer's screenplay eviscerates Tom Wolfe's forceful work of social criticism of its moral meaning.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/30/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Totally misguided.

comment Comment
02/27/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner

No review available.

comment Comment
03/11/03
Joshua Tanzer
Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff
 
 
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