Dangerous Liaisons (English Version)
Seduction. Betrayal. Revenge. It's all a game to them.
Josee Dayan's latest adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' classic tale of seduction, betrayal and revenge features an all-star cast including Catherine Deneuve, Rupert Everett, Nastassja Kinski and Lelee Sobieski, and is set in the world of 1960s Parisian high society.
The beautiful Madame de Merteuil (Deneuve) seeks vengeance when her ex-lover tells her that he is now engaged to her young goddaughter, Cecile (Sobieski). She turns to her partner-in-crime, Valmont (Everett), famous for his reputation as a Don Juan to seduce Cecile. Valmont gets sidetracked when he goes to visit his aunt and falls for Madame Tourvel (Kinski), a virtuous, married woman who knows of his womanizing ways, but that only makes the challenge more exciting to Valmont. Together, Madame de Merteuil and Valmont make a dangerous team and they will stop at nothing when it comes to matters of the heart.
Member Reviews
It's not my fault - AandW
At 300 minutes (in 2 parts) this is a pretty long film. The additional time is not really necessary as there is nothing significantly different from the Hollywood version (which stars Glenn Close, John Malkovitch, Uma Thurman, Michelle Pfiffer and Keanu Reeves). The story is also re-done in Cruel Intentions (which stars Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Geller), This version is inferrior to the two Hollywood versions. It moves slower and the characters have less depth. Skip this one and rent the others again.Disappointing Liaisons - Elsa
Given the fantastic cast and marvellous acting, this should have been a better film. While it shows intelligence and subtlety, it lacks the rakishness and panache suitable to the subject. But unfortunately - especially given the beauty of the actors and settings - there is no poetry to the direction; many of the lingering shots of, for instance, Catherine Deneuve walking out a door or Rupert Everett driving his car have the feel of a made-for-tv movie.
A more famous film of the same name, starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer, was made in 1988. (This 2003 version, unlike the 1988 one, is set in the 20th century.) Based on a novel by Choderlos de Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons is the tale of two arch-seducers, game-players who ulimately hurt themselves through their own inveterate cruelty. The Marquise de Merteuil (Catherine Deneuve) enlists her lover Valmont (Ruper Everett) to help her revenge herself on a former lover by seducing, impregnating, and sexually educating his fiancee, a fresh-from-the-convent virgin played by Leelee Sobieski. Meanwhile, Valmont falls in love with the virtuous Marie de Tourvel, played here by Natassja Kinski. Marie, aware of Valmont's reputation and loyal to her absent husband, is confused by Valmont's declarations of love. The actors are strong, and there is a moving final scene between these two - before the movie abruptly ends - but the film lacks energy.
Valmont and Merteuil are not so much sexually insatiable as bored, and the film makes that point perfectly. But, although they toast the pursuit of evil, neither is a plausible villain - Deneuve especially seems vulnerable despite her cruel machinations with her ex-lover's young fiancee. It is a little hard to take them seriously: Deneuve's seduction lair reminded me of a batcave, with its flashing light which Valmont uses to signal her - through a secret door concealed with a bookcase, her apartment connects with his (although they live side
Member Reviews
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It's not my fault - AandW
At 300 minutes (in 2 parts) this is a pretty long film. The additional time is not really necessary as there is nothing significantly different from the Hollywood version (which stars Glenn Close, John Malkovitch, Uma Thurman, Michelle Pfiffer and Keanu Reeves). ...Disappointing Liaisons - Elsa
Given the fantastic cast and marvellous acting, this should have been a better film. While it shows intelligence and subtlety, it lacks the rakishness and panache suitable to the subject. But unfortunately - especially given the beauty of the actors and ...