Watch The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1990 film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Michael Cristofer, based on the novel of the same name by Tom Wolfe. It stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Melanie Griffith in the lead roles. The movie is set in New York City in the 1980s and revolves around Sherman McCoy, a successful investment banker played by Tom Hanks. Sherman lives a comfortable life in Manhattan with his wife and daughter, but his world is shaken when he has an affair with Maria, a sultry young woman played by Melanie Griffith.

Sherman's world is further complicated when he and Maria are involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Bronx. The accident triggers a chain of events that brings his life crashing down around him, as he becomes embroiled in a media frenzy and political scandal.

Bruce Willis plays Peter Fallow, a sleazy journalist who sees the accident as the opportunity to make his name by writing a highly sensationalized story about Sherman and Maria. Fallow's reporting is riddled with inaccuracies and he creates a false narrative that inflames the racial tensions in the city.

As the situation spirals out of control, Sherman becomes the target of public outrage and political pressure, and he is forced to confront the uncomfortable reality of his position of privilege in society. He begins to realize that his actions have consequences, not just for himself, but for the people around him.

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a biting satire that skewers the greed, corruption, and excess of the 1980s. It features strong performances from its all-star cast and is notable for its visual style, which incorporates a lot of long tracking shots and complex camera movements.

Despite its star power and high production values, the movie was a critical and commercial disappointment upon its release, with many criticizing it for its bloated script and uneven tone. However, it has gained a cult following over the years and is now regarded as a fascinating artifact of its time, capturing the zeitgeist of the era in which it was made.

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1990 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 27.