The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities is an extravagant and compelling 1990 movie, based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Tom Wolfe. Directed by seasoned Hollywood craftsman Brian De Palma, the film features a high-powered cast composed of Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Melanie Griffith.

Tom Hanks portrays Sherman McCoy, a highly successful Wall Street financier who is living the high life in New York City. The character’s opulent life echoes the excesses of the 1980's, including dizzying heights of wealth and power, which Hanks carries with confidence and style. His performance accurately captures McCoy’s quick wit and high-flying allure, while simultaneously conveying an undercurrent of trepidation that hints at his imminent downfall.

Bruce Willis plays Peter Fallow, a morally vacuous and perpetually intoxicated British journalist. Willis showcases his versatility as an actor in this role, embodying Fallow’s world-weary cynicism and opportunist tendencies with a remarkable blend of audacity and charm. His comically skewed ethical compass and debauched lifestyle provide a stark contrast to McCoy's corporate efficiency and, as such, Fallow represents one of the movie's primary tools of social and moral commentary.

Melanie Griffith plays Maria Ruskin, McCoy's mistress and a sensuous Southern belle. The character is as captivating as she is conniving. Griffith delivers an entrancing performance as Ruskin, expertly navigating the complex labyrinth of her character’s deviant magnetism. Her enactment of Ruskin’s vibrant beauty and raw emotional fragility creates a deeply dynamic persona.

The rhythm of the movie unfolds at a brisk pace, following these characters as they intertwine in a sophisticated landscape of money, power, ambition, and public image. The storyline revolves around a hit-and-run accident that becomes a front-page scandal, often taking unpredictable turns as it delves further into the ramifications of the event in the lives of the characters and the society they represent.

One can appreciate the way The Bonfire of the Vanities addresses complex socio-economic and racial issues. New York City is depicted not only as a symbol of prosperity and power but also as a setting fraught with glaring class distinctions and cultural conflict. The elaborate narrative dissects the city's unique blend of decadence and poverty, exploring the obscure interconnections that can trigger catastrophic consequences from a seemingly inconsequential event.

Director De Palma remarkably balances humour and drama effectively with an insightful portrayal of the societal hierarchies and inequities of the time. Maintaining a satirical edge, the film takes a deep dive into the often-absurd realities of power, privilege, and prejudice, depicting how they can intertwine to shape personal fate and public judgement.

In terms of styling, the movie’s visual bravado stands out with luxurious displays of wealth, like aspirational Park Avenue apartments and visually spectacular party scenes. However, it simultaneously doesn’t shy away from showing the underbelly of New York City, with gritty, realistic scenes of Bronx neighbourhoods. Thelma Schoonmaker's editing and Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography make a compelling combination, capturing the dual realities of the city and the tension bubbling beneath the surface.

De Palma also makes use of effective motifs and symbolism to underline the grand themes of The Bonfire of the Vanities. Willis’s typewriter becoming a player piano and the recurring use of mirrors, are just two examples of this technique, providing additional depth to the film’s exploration of social dynamics and personal duplicity.

The accompanying score by Dave Grusin heightens the highs and lows in the film. It weaves an additional layer of narrative, fueling the emotions in critical scenes, adding a touch of electric atmosphere to the film. The cinematic grandeur is further heightened by Ann Roth's glamorous costumes and Richard Sylbert's opulent production designs.

Overall, The Bonfire of the Vanities is a memorable exploration of 1980s New York City in all its glitz, glamour, and grime. It captures the decadence of Wall Street, the hard-hitting realities of racial tension, and the manipulativeness of the media, wrapped up in the captivating lives of flawed or downright unlikable characters. While sometimes harshly scrutinized for its alterations from the revered source material, it remains a noteworthy cinematic expression of the age it strives to portray. Whether you are a fan of the original novel or drawn to audacious satirical dramas, The Bonfire of The Vanities makes for an engrossing watch.