daoldiges While the book is on my lists of must-reads, I haven't yet managed to make that happen. Regardless, I enjoyed Stephen Frears' Dangerous Liaisons. Of course, it looks wonderful, and that is supported by solid performances, script, and direction. I do feel that Keanu Reeves is miscast as the music teacher and that's a shame for such an otherwise good cast. Glenn Close give a memorable and exceptional performance, her strong character is the real backbone of this film and great fun to watch.

classicsoncall I would never have expected such inspired entertainment from such malevolent characters. The cat and mouse game that the Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) engaged in to whet the sexual appetite of Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) was cunning yet vile, and one has a difficult time placing these characters in an Eighteenth Century setting, as their machinations would have been perfectly at home in a Twentieth Century 'Dallas'. I liked the Marquise's description of Valmont as a virtuoso of deceit, that was all too fitting, but was just as undeniably true of herself. Adding to the rich tapestry of emotion, corruption and guilt in the story, the costuming was exceptionally extravagant and finely detailed, one simply marvels at the refined taste of the era's decadent near-royalty. As much as these characters tried to make you hate them, there's a perverse pleasure in seeing that they all eventually earn their due. In their case, all's well does not end well.

RavenGlamDVDCollector While watching this, I was reminded of CRUEL INTENTIONS, and, yes, CRUEL INTENTIONS was inspired by this movie. The difference to me, though, is that CRUEL INTENTIONS is highly palatable to me, while this 'French costume drama' is a long- winded bore. Sorry, I am not of refined tastes, I suppose. But I don't need a bodice ripper to be dressed up in such finery to make it acceptable to be brought home. Give me Sarah Michelle Gellar, please don't give me the Glenn Close version.I've often heard about this movie, especially when reading articles about Uma Thurman during her PULP FICTION time. I've only recently acquired it, after researching led me to a list of hot sexy movies compiled by an IMDb member, and the guy had a similar taste to mine, and mentioned a very young Uma Thurman as his main reason for including this title, so I thought, what the hell, check this one out, and downloaded the trailer, getting my first sight ever of this. Arrggh it looked awful, everything a commoner like me would expect high-brow entertainment to be, faced with this Glenn Close prospect... Anyway, the movie was available at a giveaway price, so I included it in an order, even though seeing Michelle Pfeiffer looking as dull as dishwater spells doom.Currently watching, and my honest opinion? Upper class Sirs and Madams might get their jolly rocks off with this, but they (almost all) look like powdered corpses to me. Any minute now one of those French fuddy- duddies are going to sprout fangs and return to their coffins. Anyway that would improve the story.Tedious tawdry drama dressed up for the sexually repressed. Like it's a sin to watch a blue movie, but deck them out as French aristocrats, and one could take it home to the missus. It would even get Academy Award nominations.Okay, so there's powerful acting, especially Glenn Close. But do I really wanna watch? No. Yes, there are three erotic scenes worth taking note of, the first with 'Julie' the betrayed maidservant, exposed in bed, then with 'Emilie' the rather inventive use of her nubile naked body as a desk, and then, wow, to beat it all, a bare-breasted (perfect tear-drops) Uma Thurman. I heartily recommend these three scenes for their sheer indulgent carnality. The rest though are so bloodless, so cold, such yarghhh powdered corpses...Forgive me, I am but a peasant, Your Lordships.

Kirpianuscus more than beautiful. or seductive adaptation. its basic virtue - to explore the bitter taste of cruelty. and this is one of aspects who defines the impressive performance of John Malkovich as a Valmond looking to save him like an early Dorian Gray. the entire game becomes a form of survive against yourself. and this is the detail who does the film different by other adaptations. the show of struggles, secrets, plans, victims, illusion of power and expected fall. Glenn Close is fascinating as Marquise de Merteuil. the great virtue of Stephen Frears - to impose a story with fine precision to the viewer in a total show. the costumes, Keanu Reeves, the music, Uma Thurman, the sparkles of dialogues, the end who seems illustration of final of Tosca. a film who remains more a trace and not exactly a simple adaptation.