Vanity Fair (2004)

Vanity Fair (2004)

Granada Productions etc.

September 1, 2004

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy, War Drama, Romance

DVD
B-

I have read the long novel many times (reviewed here https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/01/vanity-fair.html) and when I first saw this movie in the theater, and yesterday when I watched it again, I found it a pretty good adaptation.  A lot gets left out, especially on the Amelia side, but the performances are generally solid and the costumes are sumptuous.  Julian Fellowes co-adapted Thackeray, and directed by Mira Nair.

Six Minutes to Midnight

Six Minutes to Midnight

Lionsgate etc.

25 September 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I was drawn in by the concept but the movie got increasingly melodramatic as it went on.  Director Andy Goddard, star Eddie Izzard, and Celyn Jones, who plays Corporal Willis, co-wrote.

The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending

BBC Films etc.

14 April 2017

Drama

DVD
C-

I wasn't really drawn into the protagonist's past or his present.  Ritesh Batra directed.

Iris

Iris

Miramax etc.

18 January 2002

Romance, Historical Drama

DVD

C-

Zigzagging through the life of Iris Murdoch, based on her husband John Bayley's book Elegy for Iris.  Richard Eyre directed and co-wrote the adaptation.

The Damned United

The Damned United
BBC Films
27 March 2009
Sports Drama, Historical Drama
DVD
C

A nice lead performance by Sheen and a pretty good script almost got me past the fact that the movie is about British football.  This is based on David Peace's novel, The Damned Utd, and directed by Tom Hooper.

Borrowers (1997)

Borrowers (1997)
PolyGram
5 December 1997
Children's, Fantasy
DVD
C-

For Harry Potter fans, the main interest here is in seeing "Professor Slughorn" as the father of "Draco Malfoy."  (Tom Felton was ten but looks tiny, I mean even for a Borrower.)  This is very loosely based on the Mary Norton books, which I believe were set in the Victorian period, while this looks like the 1940s or '50s.  Peter Hewitt directed.

Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

Around the World in 80 Days (2004)
Walt Disney
June 16, 2004
Children's, Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

Well, this is livelier than the '50s version, to the point of not just slapstick but the usually mild-mannered Jim Broadbent having a tantrum.  On the plus side, Coogan is actually kind of cute with late-Victorian hair and sideburns.  And, yes, they've made Passepartout Chinese rather than Mexican this time.

Frank Coraci directed.