The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
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Cast
as Sherman McCoy
as Peter Fallow
as Maria Ruskin
as Judy McCoy
as Jed Kramer
as Judge White
as Abraham Weiss
as Rev. Bacon
as Tom Killian
as Albert Fox
as Ray Andruitti
as Det. Martin
as Det. Goldberg
as Mr. McCoy
as Arthur Ruskin
as Henry Lamb
as Caroline Heftshank
as Pollard Browning
as Prison Guard
as Rawlie Thorpe
as Ed Rifkin
as Aubrey Buffing
as Robert Corso
as Annie Lamb
as Sir Gerald Moore
as Evelyn Moore
as Public Relations Woman
as Campbell McCoy
as Roland Auburn
as Filippo Chirazzi
as Sally Rawthrote
as Leon Bavardage
as Inez Bavardage
as Tony, Doorman
as Bill, Doorman
as Eddie, Doorman
as Gene Lopwitz
as Pimp
as Prostitute
as Latino
as Lockwood
as Court Clerk
as Mrs. McCoy
as Billy Cortez
as Fox's Assistant
as Intercom Man
as Buck
as Aide
as Cecil Hayden
as `The Commandatori'
as Bobby Shaflet/'Don Giovanni'
as Boris Karlevskov
as Female Guest
as TV Producer
as Maid
as Butler
as Nunally Voyd
as Maitre D'
as French Waiter
as Shocked Woman
as Funeral Director
as Ruskin Family Member
as Manny Leerman
as Anchorwoman
as Public Relations Assistant
as Diplomat
as Diplomat's Wife
as Diplomat's Daughter
as Bondsman
as Bondsman
as Bondsman
as Bondsman
as Bondsman
as Poe Picketer
as Poe Picketer
as Poe Picketer
as Poe Picketer
as Poe Picketer
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as Media Jackal
as French Restaurant Patron
as French Restaurant Patron
as French Restaurant Patron
as French Restaurant Patron
as Gospel Singer
as Gospel Singer
as Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
as Gospel Singer
as Gospel Singer
as Gospel Singer
as Weiss' Aide
as Weiss' Aide
as Weiss' Aide
as Weiss' Aide
as Well Wisher
as Well Wisher
Critic Reviews for The Bonfire of the Vanities
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (43) | DVD (4)
If you're interested in a faithful visual adaptation of Wolfe's novel, be assured that this isn't it.
What a mess.
On film, Bonfire achieves a consistency of ineptitude rare even in this era of over-inflated cinematic air bags.
If you loved Wolfe's book, you may very well hate the movie. If you simply liked the novel, you may be simultaneously entertained and disappointed by what De Palma and Cristofer have done to it.
Certainly Wolfe's canvas might lend itself to a broad approach, but broad like Dr. Strangelove, not broad like the Three Stooges.
The film was cast wrong and written shallowly.
Audience Reviews for The Bonfire of the Vanities
From Brian De Palma comes the satirical comedy The Bonfire of the Vanities. Based on an acclaimed novel, the story follows a Wall Street bond trader who's involved in a hit and run accident that becomes sensationalizes by a muckraker journalist. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, and Morgan Freeman, who all give solid performances. However, the tone of the film is inconsistent, as is the humor; it's not dark enough to be a dark comedy and it's not goofy enough to be a screwball comedy. Yet The Bonfire of the Vanities delivers some good laughs and is an enjoyable film overall.
Super Reviewer
Bonfire of the Vanities is not the tumbling shit-fest you've been told it is. In fact the film is pretty funny and shot really nicely. It's not without it's flaws, Hanks is a bit mis cast and Kim Cattrall is downright terrible. It's no American Psycho, but if you're in the mood for a bit of 80's satire, I'd say check it out.
Super Reviewer
In no way is it the disaster that most people claim it to be. In fact, it’s actually a very well done criticism of the 80s yuppie lifestyle as well as racism, sex and politics. You have to feel sorrow for Tom Hanks’ Sherman McCoy, who accidentally gets himself into the biggest scandal of the time. While he might be prejudiced, in no way does he deserve to be put through all the anguish that he is subjected to. I love the idea of the Jewish District Attorney trying to win the minority vote by charging an innocent man as well as his assistant who has no shame in getting all the false evidence he can gather. Melanie Griffith was amazing as an incredibly over the top seductress and Bruce Willis plays a great drunk. Brian De Palma does a great job creating a captivating set of shots that are both original and fun to watch.
Super Reviewer
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