If there was ever a story ripe for a
modern re-telling, it is “Dangerous Liaisons,” Pierre Chaderlos
de Laclos's 1782 novel of a couple of French aristocrats one-upping
each other in a series of cruel sexual games, leaving behind broken
hearts and shattered lives. The tale, told in a series of letters,
made a scandal in 1782, and some have suggested that its depiction of
upper-class decadence helped fuel the French Revolution of 1789. The
book has been adapted to stage and screen in numerous forms and
languages, including the absolutely classic 1988 version starring
Glenn Close and John Malkovich. (If you haven't seen this,you need to
remedy that, immediately!) There's also a terrific 1959 French version staring Jeanne Moreau.
Roger Kumble's 1999 telling, “Cruel
Intentions,” brings the story into the privileged world of wealthy,
modern-day, Manhattan teens. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan
Phillippe play Merteuil and Valmont, a couple of bored, beautiful
step-siblings, whose parents seem to be completely absent. Living in
a beautiful mansion, the two play out their attraction to each other
by sharing tales of their sexual conquests. Valmont is widely known
as a bad-boy, but Merteuil hides behind a screen of virtue, a trusted
student-body president who serves as a mentor for younger girls.
Merteuil is angry at a boy who has broken up with her, and unwilling
to be seen publicly seeking revenge, she seeks to enlist Valmont to
seduce and despoil the boy's new, freshman girlfriend, Cecile (Selma
Blair). Valmont, however, is more interested in the challenge of
seducing an incoming transfer student, the daughter of the school's
new headmaster. Annette (Reese Witherspoon) is deeply Christian and
an outspoken proponent of purity. Annette is the perfect challenge
for the notorious ladies' man, and he has no time to waste on the
horny airhead Cecile. Cecile's mother, however, sabotages Valmont by
warning Annette about his reputation. Valmont decides to avenge
himself by seducing the saboteur’s daughter, and Merteuil sweetens
the deal by promising to sleep with Valmont if he successfully
seduces both girls. Thus the stage is set for a classic tale of
sexual terrorism.
“Cruel Intentions” very closely
follows the 1988 “Dangerous Liaisons” film, and I enjoyed picking
up on the modern versions of scenes from that movie. As a fan of the
older film, I may have enjoyed “Cruel Intentions” more than I
would have otherwise. Viewed strictly on its own merits, the newer
film suffers in the acting department. Sarah Michelle Gellar does a
fine job as the icy Merteuil, but Ryan Phillippe is his usual, wooden
self. As good as Selma Blair and Reese Witherspoon have been in
other movies, they are pretty weak here. Despite all that, I found
the movie quite fun. The source material gives it a rich, layered
plot, and Kumble mostly manages to sell the idea that these teens'
sex lives are deadly serious. This film has somehow gotten a
reputation as being full of sex, but I'm honestly not sure how it got
its R rating. As opposed to the 1988 film, there's no nudity here,
and most of the sexual activity is only alluded to. It's trashy fun,
but it's no “Wild Things.”
3 stars out of 5
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