Stars: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Keanu Reeves, Uma Thurman

Director: Stephen Frears

Summary: Based on the infamous novel LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES by Choderlos de Laclos, intrigue in 18th Century France where a Marquise and a Lothario mastermind a romantic manipulation. Based on a novel by Pierre Choderlos De Lados.

Based on the infamous novel LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES by Choderlos de Laclos and the subsequent Christopher Hampton play, set in pre-revolutionary France, a cunning Marquise (Glenn Close) and a seductive Vicomte (John Malkovich) mastermind a cruel and complicated game of romantic manipulation. Set against the backdrop of high--society baroque boudoirs, filled with deceitful lovers and cunning sexual gamesmanship the Marquise and the Vicomte agree to a competition involving a virginal young bride (Uma Thurman) and a faithful wife (Michele Pfieffer). When the Vicomte successfully seduces the virtous and faithful wife they unexpectantly fall in love, breaking the rules of the inhuman Marquise's clever parlor game with vengeful results.

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Reviewed by: mcdermot7@aol.com
Posted on November 5, 2005 4:32 PM

Sexual intrigue in 18th Century France. Glenn Close (Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil) & John Malkovich (Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont) are equally wicked. It has lust, seduction, innocence & revenge & it will have your undivided attention in what is a masterppiece. It is vastly superior to the remake cruel intentions. It has Uma Thurman displaying her charms forget Kill Bill this is her at her innocent best.

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A sumptuously mounted and photographed celebration of artful wickedness, betrayal and sexual intrigue among depraved 18th-century French aristocrats, Dangerous Liaisons(based on Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses) is seductively decadent fun. The villainous heroes are the Marquise De Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte De Valmont (John Malkovich), who have cultivated their mutual cynicism into a highly developed and exquisitely mannered form of (in-)human expression. Former lovers, they now fancy themselves rather like demigods whose mutual desires have evolved beyond the crudeness of sex or emotion. They ritualistically act out their twisted affections by engaging in elaborate conspiracies to destroy the lives of their less calculating acquaintances, daring each other to ever-more-dastardly acts of manipulation and betrayal. Why? Just because they can; it's their perverted way of getting their kicks in a dead-end, pre-Revolutionary culture. Among their voluptuous and virtuous prey are fair-haired angels played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman, who have never looked more ripe for ravishing. When the Vicomte finds himself beset by bewilderingly genuine emotions for one of his victims, the Marquise considers itthe ultimate betrayal and plots her heartless revenge. Dangerous Liaisonsis a high-mannered revel for the actors, who also include Swoosie Kurtz, Mildred Natwick, and Keanu Reeves. --Jim Emerson

Aspect Ratio:	Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Interactive Menus, Production Notes, Scene Access
Subtitles:	Arabic, Czech, English, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Turkish
Year:	1988
Release Date:	May 1, 1998
Runtime:	115 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 011872
Keywords:	Dangerous, General, Liaisons, Wide, Screen, Romantic, Drama, Period, Choderlos
Genre:	Drama