StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay aims to analyze the Brian De Palma’s film, entitled The Bonfire of the Vanities, that is notorious for being a box office blunder and well known for this fact that there is still growing speculation as to the cause of the film’s tragic failure…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.7% of users find it useful
Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped"

Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped Brian De Palma’s film The Bonfire of the Vanities is notorious for being a box office blunder. It is so well known for this fact that there is still growing speculation as to the cause of the film’s tragic failure. With all of the positive factors that the film had going for it, like an excellent cast in securing Bruce Willis and Tom Hanks, and a screenplay based on a bestselling novel, as well as Christmas day opening, it is undeniable that the film had garnered the necessary anticipation. The only real explanation for the film’s outcome is the unsatisfactory direction of Brian De Palma, and it’s the most believable considering his track record in Hollywood. The only way to truly narrow down all of the possibilities of why this film was such a flop at the Box office is to rationally view all of the contributing factors and then make a sound judgment as to which one is most likely the cause of the film’s failure. In most cases, because the entertainment industry is so fickle, it could be argued that any number of possibilities could have contributed to the cause and that it couldn’t have just been one. But, this particular case is infamous for the very reason that all of the contributing factors have had an excellent track record entering into the conditions of this film production highly recommended (Belton, 1994). The contributing factors being the plot line was highly respected due to the fact that is was based on a bestselling novel, all of the cast was A list, so the only thing working against the film is actually the director. De Palma’s reputation in Hollywood is that of a loner and it stems from his ability to flop due to completely disregarding appealing subject matter. The first two decades of De Palma’s career consisted of films dominated with voyeuristic themes, vulgarity, pornography and violence. He was even nominated for five “Razzie Awards” which are recognized as the worst films ever in Hollywood. While the average person being awarded with this dishonorable achievement might see their career ended, De Palma has managed to maintain his studio support, despite the fact that he is globally viewed by millions of film fans as undeserving and out of place in Hollywood (Belton, 1994). De Palma’s few successes have come through his films either bringing in a decent box office revenue or achieving cult status. These films are Carrie (1976), Scarface (1983), Carlito’s Way (1993), The Untouchables (1987), and Mission: Impossible (1996). This success was deemed to be due to the fact that De Palma had strayed away from his more violent and pornographic film models. The cult success of these films, specifically Scarface combined with what is perceived to be an advanced talent in technical visual skills has led many to believe that it is his choice of subject matter that denies him critical acclaim as a director. But, like previously noted, in the case of The Bonfire Vanities the storyline was already a critically acclaimed novel. For a filmmaker of De Palma’s caliber, it is really on him to make or break the film. In her novel The Devils Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood, author Julie Salamon does a through recount as to what when on during the filming of De Palma’s blunder. In the opening of the book she notes during the first meeting between De Palma and Tom Hanks that “ …De Palma hadn’t called Hanks downtown to discuss his hair. Warner Bros. had plans to release “The Bonfire of the Vanities” by Christmas and as of January 12 the movie didn’t have a starting date for production and many crucial parts hadn’t been cast. Perhaps the most critical of these parts was that of Maria Ruskin, the Mistress of bond trader Sherman McCoy (Salamon, 1992).” The opening of Salamon’s book implies very clearly that the film’s success was doomed from the very start. De Palma’s original pick for the Ruskin role is Michelle Pfeiffer, but eventually passes on the part and he settles for Melanie Griffith after courting Uma Therman for the part fails. This could also have slightly contributed to the films failure in that many critics have argued Melanie Griffith’s performance in the film is plastic and unbelievable. In De Palma’s defense, there are critiques of the film which argue that the failure of the production is largely due to the subject matter of the film being a major contradiction to Hollywood life. One commenter in Salamon’s interviews noted that “It was a predictable disaster. “Well, perhaps not quite a disaster, if youve never read the book, but a major disappointment if you have. Predictable, because the central point of the book is a scathing indictment of contemporary urban liberalism--and who is Hollywood full of, but contemporary urban liberals? They just couldnt bring themselves to play it straight, and instead softened every blow by turning each complex, vivid character from the book into a caricature, a mere cartoon. The result is no biting satire, just pathetic farce (Salamon, 1992).” While this argument is far reaching, it does pose a potential argument that in relating to the plight of the decadence and corrupt nature of the main characters the actors as well as the director alike would be exercising a form of very real self condemnation. It is believable to think that this would be a very demanding task to ask of the cast, but it is more reasonable to assume like Salamon argues that the film was behind schedule from the start. In the end even the lack luster acting of Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Mellanie Griffith falls on the blame of De Palma because he has final cut. The problem is his extensive use of vulgar and violent subject matter has handicapped him from creating a work with any credible human or emotional perspective. He is directing a film with a sensitive subject matter but lacks all form of sensitivity, and all of his films suggest this. In sum, De Palma’s flop at the box office with The Bonfire of the Vanities is entirely due to his own unsatisfactory directing. He has never been nominated for an Academy Award, or for a Golden Globe, despite the fact that he has had unprecedented studio support, in that they allow for all of his failures. In assessing what made The Bonfire of the Vanities flop at the box office, it must be recognized that all of the necessary tools were available, the actors, storyline, studio support, even anticipation, but Brian De Palma just didn’t deliver. There is much speculation as to why this film wasn’t a success, but the truth is the formula of the situation speaks for itself. De Palma has such a negative influence, his contribution to this film weighs down its progress so much that it can’t even be balanced out by the acting of Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis, two guaranteed Box Office draws who also happen to be in the prime of their careers. Work Cited Belton, John (1994). American Cinema/American Culture. New York: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and New York Center for Visual History. Chion, M. (1994). Audio - Vision: Sound on Screen. New York: Columbia University Press. Kassabian, A. (2001). Hearing Film: Tracking Identifications in Contemporary Hollywood Film Music. New York And London: Routledge. Salamon, Julie (1992). The Devils Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood Delta. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1519326-why-the-bonfire-of-the-vanities-flopped
(Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1519326-why-the-bonfire-of-the-vanities-flopped.
“Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1519326-why-the-bonfire-of-the-vanities-flopped.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Why the Bonfire of the Vanities Flopped

Immunity and Infection

This essay focuses on the human skin, that is the largest organ in a human body, it's protective impacts on the body and defensive nature against viruses and microorganisms.... The researcher focuses on describing the human skin as an organ, infections and immunity.... hellip; The researcher of this essay states that skin is not only a covering to our body, but also covers and protects everything inside your body....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

International Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone

Different ceremonies were held in Sierra Leone as part of the culture and religion of the people.... One of the ceremonies that were more conspicuous was the movement in rings or circles during ceremonies to honor ancestors.... hellip; Culture, rituals and religions have shaped social, economic and political development of various nations across the globe....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper

Orientalism in Fashion

This essay discusses the significance of ‘Orientalism' in the haute couture designs of Paul Poiret and includes some reference to relevant artworks from the same period leading up to World War One.... Orientalism as a fashion theme has been in existence since the last century.... hellip; The essay discovers Orientalism as a fashion theme that has been in existence since the beginning of the last century....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Features Of The Mummification Process In Ancient Egypt

According to the Oxford English dictionary, the word mummy was recorded in the English language during the fourteenth century.... The paper "Features Of The Mummification Process In Ancient Egypt" discusses the dual meaning and purpose of body preservation through mummification in ancient Egypt.... hellip; The subsidiary entombment of retainers indicates the understanding of the immortality on them and their purpose of serving their master in the spirit world....
10 Pages (2500 words) Term Paper

Nursing Care and Primary Angioplasty of Thrombolysis

The paper "Nursing Care and Primary Angioplasty of Thrombolysis" discusses that together working with other clinical networks and NHS organisation across England, NHS improvement helps to deliver and build sustainable improvements across the entire pathway of care in diagnostic services.... hellip; A PPCI service has been established for North Devon which will commence very soon....
8 Pages (2000 words) Term Paper

Ways in Which the Expectations of Supermarket Shoppers Have Changed Since, During and Post-Recession

This study will identify and discuss the ways in which the expectations of supermarket shoppers have changed during and post-recession, use specific examples from UK supermarkets and critically evaluate the extent to which these changing expectations are being met.... hellip; This paper illustrates that supermarkets work very hard to see the satisfaction of their customers but because demands and expectations keep on changing, the supermarkets deal with customers as per their recent expectations....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Fur Trade Industry and Environmental Psychology

hellip; Environment and wellbeing are closely linked, that is one of the reasons why environmental psychology is a necessary field and why so many other disciplines also take it into consideration.... This coursework "The Fur Trade Industry and Environmental Psychology" considers what conceptions within ethics have led to this particular train of thought or social normative behavior, namely how the society defines justice and distributes this justice....
8 Pages (2000 words) Coursework

Structure of the Cydia Pomonella in Croatia

… The paper "Structure of the Cydia Pomonella in Croatia" is an inspiring example of a thesis on biology.... This is an analysis of the population genetics of Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) Lepidoptera and tortricidae that niche on the apple orchards and specifically in Croatia.... The major aspect under consideration is the genetic structure of the Cydia pomonella in Croatia....
10 Pages (2500 words) Thesis
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us