Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Bonfire of the Vanities

Top positive review

A good film that needs to be re-reviewed

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019

It has been 28 years between viewings for me on this film. Now I was a fan of the book and hated the changes the filmmakers did but after recently reading the book on the making of this film (The Devil's Candy) I decided to view this film once again and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the film.

Now this is not a masterpiece but the film does tell the story about how "Greed" does corrupt and and how many different types of"Greed" there is. Everybody wants something from someone. The film does however alter the "Sherman" character a tad too much but at the end of the day the film works.

I hope critics will re-evaluate their opinions of this film. Since its release the film seems to have been ahead of the curb on many issues! This was an expensive film to make! The budget overruns were not the fault of the director. The studio needed to take some of the blame. However De Palma took the brunt of the negative press. The film has flaws but it is still A GOOD FILM TO SEE.

11 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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brandon

This Bonfire Blows Smoke.

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2021

A disaster of an adaptation. The cast includes some of the biggest stars of the day, which makes it that much more of a disappointment.

The director didn't seem to understand the source material. Writer Tom Wolfe created a true-crime story, where the facts were all tinged in shades of gray. The film removed that moral ambiguity and replaced it with something much simpler, something that is not quite serious and not quite a comedy.

Having just read the book, I was still confused by scenes in the movie - Why was the kid in a coma cheesing for the camera? This film is a mess.

3 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Corey M.

Speedy Delivery...

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2021

Verified Purchase

...of a failed flick. Glitzy adaptation of the Wolfe novel that does not work due to an inept script and mediocre performances.

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Faith

Fantastic movie

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

I'm so glad I rented this movie
It was fantastic

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E. S..

As described (new) and received quickly and on time.

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2021

Verified Purchase

It really is one of the most expensive to make and most mediocre movies to watch (as many critics have opined).

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Book Worm

The Best of Political Satire Ever!

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2021

I don't understand why this move was considered a "flop." This movie could be re-released today as America and NY hasn't changed. If anything the issues that were humorously highlighted before are even more poignant. Perhaps a remake could make us laugh again at ourselves??

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Clifford Klutz

30 years ahead of its time

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2021

This movie tells a story dealing with issues or racism, opportunism, greed, government malfeasance, predatory religious causes, ethics, and political corruption in an entertaining way that will probably be banned by the so-called "woke" in the near future. Watch it while you still can, if you still can. Since I have not read the book, I have no way to know how well it follows the book. But, book or no book, the movie stands on its own as somewhat of a masterpiece.

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