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One of the 31 films from Warner Bros. Entertainment available on YouTube for free viewing is a film that was disliked by its cast, panned by critics, and largely overlooked despite starring some well-known actors like and . The movie in question is none other than , and thanks to Warner Bros.’ (questionable) generosity, anyone who hasn’t seen it yet can now watch it for free – which might just be the best way to experience this forgotten film.

In 1990, I had the opportunity to take part in the big-screen adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s novel, “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” under the direction of Brian De Palma, who is known for stirring up controversy. With a hefty budget of $47 million, it was hoped that the film would be a success. However, at the global box office, it only managed to earn $15 million. Despite the star-studded cast, the movie couldn’t escape its poor reception and received a 15% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience’s 26% rating was the final blow that sealed its fate as a commercial disappointment.

Since the movie has been released for free viewing on Warner Bros. Entertainment’s YouTube channels, it might be worth another look. It’s doubtful that anyone’s opinion of the film would have shifted significantly over the past 35 years, not even those who were part of its cast, as they themselves disliked the movie they helped create.

Why Do Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis Regret ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’?

To clarify things, “The Bonfire of the Vanities” features Melanie Griffith, Kim Cattrall, Morgan Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Willis. However, it’s not just these two stars who might prefer to overlook their involvement in this film due to its infamous issue of miscasting almost every major role.

Over time, numerous celebrities, among them De Palma, have expressed their less than favorable opinions about this film. Notably, Hanks, a two-time Academy Award winner, referred to it as one of the “most poorly made movies.” Quite an accolade coming from such a distinguished figure, who in 2001 stated that the movie was:

Even if I were to travel to Germany today, people might ask me why I don’t produce films like ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ anymore, which they find gritty and emblematic of America. They fail to understand that being an American actor and starring in that movie significantly impacted our country’s culture at that time. When I portrayed Sherman McCoy, people would stop me on the streets, saying, ‘You’re not Sherman McCoy.’ My response was usually, ‘Oh, really?’ I deliberately went against the character and script, but I kept reminding myself that there was a way for me to embody this role.

In his critique, Willis didn’t hold back on his feelings towards the movie, bluntly stating, “The project was doomed from conception, lifeless even before it premiered. It seemed as though reviews were already in circulation before audiences had a chance to see it. Critics speculated, ‘If we were making this film, we’d choose William Hurt over Tom Hanks,’ and so on. Such comments imply that the critics might possess some creativity and storytelling skills themselves, rather than merely discussing what others are attempting to accomplish in their projects.

As a film critic, I must say that Morgan Freeman, portraying Judge Leonard White, didn’t deliver his most lackluster performance for this role. However, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he wasn’t shy about sharing his candid insights. He admitted, “I didn’t exactly knock it out of the park with my acting in this film.

It was clear to me that the movie wouldn’t succeed because Brian De Palma seemed clueless about it. Initially, they intended for Alan Arkin to portray my character, which I thought was an excellent choice. However, they felt compelled to be politically correct and cast a Black actor as the judge instead, replacing Alan Arkin with me. Not exactly how I would have wanted to land this role.

Although some may find flaws with it, it’s undeniable that certain individuals appreciated The Bonfire of the Vanities, and they now have the chance to revisit their initial positive opinion by watching it on YouTube. For those remaining, it boils down to whether or not one is willing to endure a film experience that, statistically speaking, may fall short of expectations.

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2025-02-09 17:31