Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

I finally had a chance to watch Vanity Fair last night, Since we decided to get netflix I have had the oppertunity to enjoy so many great movies that before I never before had the pleasure of viewing. So of course I have to pick my period drama movies first. 
I so enjoyed this movie due to Reese Witherspoon playing in it I don't think she even plays in a movie that I don't like. 
The story line was very interesting though...
Growing up poor in London, Becky Sharp (Witherspoon) defies her poverty-stricken background and ascends the social ladder alongside her best friend, Amelia.

Storyline

William Makepeace Thackeray's witty assessment of the British class system, as seen through the experiences of one young woman, is brought to the screen with some serious star power in this period comedy drama. Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) is a bright and ambitious girl born to a poor British family. Becky is determined to make something of herself however she can, and after accepting a job as a nanny for the children of the powerful and aristocratic Sir Pitt Crawley (Bob Hoskins), she wastes no time ingratiating herself with the family. Pretty Becky catches the eye of Crawley's handsome and eligible son Rawdon (James Purefoy), and becomes chummy with sharp-tongued Aunt Matilda (Eileen Atkins). Between the two of them, Becky is introduced to London's most exclusive social circle, where she becomes re-acquainted with Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai), a former school chum who is amused by Becky's efforts to scale the ladder of social influence. Becky weds Rawdon, but following initial happiness, the social and economic stability she dreamed of begins to collapse when he begins drowning his troubles in gambling and drink, and soon she turns to the powerful Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne) for support. Meanwhile, Amelia's fortunes fall even harder following the death of her husband. Vanity Fair was directed by Mira Nair, who enjoyed a surprise international success with 2002's Monsoon Wedding. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Its like I really wanted to see Reese Witherspoon's role move up the social ladder but the way she went about it was not the best way, it was her downfall especcially when she sent her son away I totally lost all respect for her. 

And then her friend Amelia what a pathetic sight I must admit. In the begining her love for that idiot Captain George Henry Osborne. I mean he was a jerk in the beginning to the end. I mean to fall for your best friends friend that kind of tells you what kind of scum ball he is. Of course Amelia finally finds out in the end. 

Mansfield Park

Jane Austen's  Mansfield Park

For the past couple of nights I've been entertaining myself with watching Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. 

I must admit it was quite good and made me want to be like Fannie Price even though in this time in age who could? unless your of an angelic creature. And to think of one so good hearted and enduring. I definatelly had to look up this certain word I always question myself from time to time when I do not use a certain word often. And I found this :en·dur·ing 

adj.

1. Lasting; continuing; durable: a novel of enduring interest.

2. Long-suffering; patient.

I found this definition of Fanny to be her.
 Poor dear sweet Fannie she really did endure...
And like they say good things happen to those who wait.
I am so happy she did not fall for the fake play that Henry Crawford tried. 
And I just love that about Fanny that she may come off passive and you would think gullible but she stood by her instincts and heart and the outcome was what prevailed. And lets not forget Henry, he gave in to his lust and went off with Maria.
So lets see... 
you then have Maria, the daughter of Sir Thomas Bertram. 
What a piece of work right? She has a perfectly great husband yes I know he's not the handsomest but by god you know he's trust worthy and loves her. Which makes makes him beautiful. 
So typical of Maria to run off with Mr.Crawford, you ask me they deserve each other.
 So they're both ruined at the end for their selfishness and lust to which we all know doesn't last.
Then you have...
  Edmund Bertram. The Bertrams' younger son. He will become a clergyman.The only one of the Bertrams' children with a good head and a good heart, Edmund is Fanny's closest companion.
Then Edmund blindly falls in love with shallow Mary which almost becomes the fall of him.

Then of course there is Mary Crawford...
 She is beautiful and charming, but also shallow and evil. She becomes friends with a reluctant Fanny, while Edmund falls in love with and nearly proposes to her.
 Then of course there's 
Henry Craford...
  -  Mary's brother. He is equally charming and possibly even more amoral, and he possesses a sizeable estate. First Maria and Julia fall in love with him, and he takes to Maria, despite her engagement. When Maria marries and the sisters leave Mansfield, he falls for Fanny and proposes to her. Everyone is convinced he is a changed man.
To we know the answer to that one...

I really found this Movie to be very well made and I thank my dear Jane Austen for another huge sucess. I almost to want to compare this to A Jane eyre but I cannot quite do this you see only in the same as maybe the role of Jane eyre to Fanny they both attain the some what same characteristics.
This one film was filmed in 1983 
And I've noticed that it had been remade several times. I really do look forward to seing the more modern versions, anything Jane Austen really I just adore and will definatelly occupy my time viewing and will be content.