"The Bonfire of the Vanities" is a 1990 satirical comedy-drama film directed by Brian De Palma, starring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis. The story is based on Tom Wolfe's novel of the same name and is set in New York City during the 1980s. The film follows the life of a Wall Street bond trader named Sherman McCoy (Hanks) who gets caught up in a scandal after he and his mistress (Griffith) accidentally hit a black teenager with their car.
The film was highly anticipated, but it received negative reviews and was a commercial failure, grossing less than half of its production budget. It was also criticized for its portrayal of black characters and its handling of race issues. Despite this, the film has since gained a cult following and is considered by some to be a fascinating time capsule of New York City in the 1980s.
"The Bonfire of the Vanities" is known for its star-studded cast, which also includes Morgan Freeman and Saul Rubinek, and its lavish production design. However, it was widely panned by critics who felt that the film failed to capture the satirical edge of Wolfe's novel. De Palma's direction was criticized for being too flashy and the script was accused of being overly long and unfocused. Despite its poor reception, the film has gained a cult following over the years and is considered to be a fascinating time capsule of New York City in the 1980s.
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Anna Miko enjoys writing more than reading books. But most of all she likes to write movie and series reviews. Being fond of classic cinema, she nevertheless is the author of many research works on contemporary visual arts. She also writes short essays on new movies and series helping others to navigate the world of modern cinema.
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