Almost forgot, my review of Vanity Fair is up at Film Threat. It opened Wednesday, in order to get a jump on what will undoubtedly be the one-two box office punch of Paparazzi (not screened for the press) and Wicker Park (not a sequel to The Wicker Man).
I was an English major in college so you know I read Vanity Fair. I remember very little of the novel itself. I do recall my professor explaining that Thackeray wrote it as an examination of the corrosion of the British class system. Hello! Was there really a break down in that system? Me thinks not. Anyway, the costuming looks resplendent and I do like Ms. Witherspoon so it won't be a total bore.
I really appreciated your review. I haven't seen the movie yet, but your review was about what I expected. Slate also has a well-written critique:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2106202/
You love you! :)