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Overall Rating
  Awesome: 72%
Worth A Look: 18%
Average: 4%
Pretty Bad: 6%
Total Crap: 0%
1 review, 44 user ratings
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| Dangerous Liaisons |
by Godfather
"Close and Malkovich make Machovelli look like Prince Charming"
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If movies can be said to be art then Dangerous Liaisons, the French based historical drama, should be hanging in the Louvre with the other masterpieces. If the title sounds familiar it is because at least two rip-offs (Valmont; Cruel Intentions) had the audacity to attempt remakes. In keeping with the above analogy, these films are the Louvre's doormat and toilet paper, respectively. In contrast, Dangerous Liaisons sets the standard for all films in respect to its brilliant acting, beautiful photography, intelligent writing and magnificent directing. Its story is the perfect blend of love and deception, and the cast delivers it flawlessly and with a genius that other actors cannot help but envy. It is a must see for anyone who doubts that love and hate really are two sides of the same coin.Glenn Close and John Malkovich are absolutely brilliant as the Machiavellian duo (and former lovers) Marquees Merteuil & Viscount Valmont. The Countess has requested the assistance of the Viscount in what she describes as a heroic undertaking, the extraction of revenge on her former husband who ran off with the Viscount's mistress. The idea is to destroy the innocence of the Count's intended young virginal bride-to-be, Cecile Valounge (played convincingly by the well-endowed Uma Thurman). Unfortunately for the Countess, the Viscount has another intended victim on his agenda, the beautiful Madame de Tourvel. The Viscount intends to make the lovely and virtuous lady fall in love with him and cheat on her husband while still believing in the sanctity of her marriage. Despite his refusal of her request, the Viscount persuades the Marquees to promise him a reward (one last night together) if he accomplishes his self-appointed task. In the meantime, the Marquees enlists the unknowing assistance of an impoverished young music teacher (played by Keanu Reeves) to achieve her desires. Eventually, the Viscount decides, for entirely selfish reasons, to assist the Marquees in her venture. This seemingly harmless decision leads to a series of plot twists and backfires that rival the best moments of the Shakespearean tragedies "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet". The result of this Dangerous Liaison is that the lives of each of the above mentioned characters become intertwined until they reach the inevitable Shakespearean tragedy conclusion, death and/or destruction of all but the most virtuous.
The reference to Shakespeare is very much intended. If you are a fan of any of his plays (or even the movies dramatised by artists such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Mel Gibson and Lawrence Fishburne, to name but a few) you know that they are exciting, and intriguing, and require the performance of some mental callisthenics when watching them. While Dangerous Liaisons is spoken in plain English, the sheer complexity of the film requires you to pay attention. Trust me, it is well worth it. From the beautifully photographed eighteenth century aristocratic lifestyles (including some decadent nude scenes with lovely young French ladies), to the delivery of the unbelievably witty and intelligent dialogue, you will not want to miss a moment.For Hollywood BitchSlap, I'm the Godfather.
link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=2082&reviewer=142
originally posted: 09/25/99 14:19:55
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USA
01-Dec-1988 (R)
UK
N/A (15)
Australia
N/A
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