Valmont (1989)

Much more enjoyable!

This is one of my all time favorite movies and the Editorial Review is in my opinion way off the track. Dangerous L. was sarcastic and bitter - a cast of vile characters that left a bad taste in your mouth. Besides who would ever believe that somebody as ugly as John M. could possible seduce any woman - a real miscast. Now this movie treats the same somewhat sordid story of the bored French aristocracy in a completely different way. Colin Firth is completely believable and utterly charming as Valmont. Even so a schemer and seducer the director also shows the the softer, more vulnerable side of the main character - which gives him humanity, so lacking in the first movie with John M. I also completely disagree about the Meg Tilly versus Michelle Pfeiffer character. Meg delivers an outstanding performance and her fragile beauty can be heartbreaking. The movie also has humor, completely lacking in the other adaption. The cast here is outstanding - I highly recommend THIS adaption - forget about Dangerous L. December 15, 2008

"One must always honor a bet."

This lavish retelling of Les Liaisons Dangereuses stars Annette Benning as the Marquise de Merteuil, a nasty aristocrat who delights in manipulating those around her. She is outraged when her lover makes plans to marry the young and virtuous Cecile,(who is in love with her music teacher), so she engages the services of the notorious playboy the Vicomte de Valmont to cuckold him. Before he can do it, however, Valmont falls in love with a proper, married woman, Madame de Tourvel. Learning of this, Merteuil bets Valmont that he can't bed Tourvel, and he happily takes up the challenge.

The plot was so complex that I needed a scorecard to keep straight who was doing what to whom and why. All the action swirls around Benning's Merteuil and she's malicious and flirty enough, but her American accent detracts from her character. In fact, the array of American and British accents and their 21st century delivery spoil the illusion that the story is set in 18th century France. As Valmont, Colin Firth is definite eye-candy but not nearly lecherous enough; he's boyish and pitiable instead of cunning and ruthless. Meg Tilley (Tourvel) and Henry Thomas, (the music teacher) are incredibly bland and look out of place in a period piece.

On the plus side, the Oscar-nominated costumes are breathtakingly opulent and palatial sets and locations are flawless. It's the actors that keep the movie from being really good; they're more common than genteel and I didn't believe any of them. 3.5 stars. October 31, 2008

A warm, pleasent yet a seductive story never fails to take the viewer all the way back to its time!

Beautifull costumes and sets are usually what are found in films depicting the 18th century France. A perfect cast and moreover every single individual delivers a sattisfying performence. Brilliant performeces by Colin Firth, Annette Benning and Meg Tilly. Meg Tilly's performence is perhaps beyond words and the rest nevertheless delivers a good performence and does justice to their roles. and played their parts very well. The film takes you right back at 18th century in France. Wonderfull music and cinematography and the film is quite a contribution to make the film worth a watch. September 19, 2008

The Art of Seduction

Both "Valmont" and "Dangerous Liasons" are fabulous films. I personally prefer "Valmont". The casting for this film is fantastic. Colin Firth makes a much more charming and handsome `Valmont' who knows how to use the 'art of seduction' to his advantage. Annette Benning is a scheming and beautiful `de Merteuil'. The mood of this film is more feel-good, it contains more playful humour and the imagery (especially in the outdoors) is amazing. With `Dangerous Liasons'; the characters (played by Glenn Close and John Malkovich) were more sinister and less likeable (I guess it depends what mood you're in). Overall: Highly recommended. July 10, 2008

Odd Interpretration of a Classic

Chadores Laclo's "Les Liaisons Dangerous" was given another go around in 1989's "Valmont." Director Stephen Frears had finished his definitive version "Dangerous Liaisons," about six months before. "Valmont" is a sumptuous film. Director Milos Forman ("Amadeus") has an eye for detail and mis en scene. As in "Amadeus," Forman likes his actors playful. The sets, costumes, lighting and architecture are wonderfully eye filling. To know that countless doves were dyed blue to be let loose an the opening scene alerts you to the degree of detail Forman adheres to. Annette Bening and Colin Firth as Merteuil and Valmont seem to be enjoying their parts. The acting by Meg Tilly, Fairuza Balk,Sian Phillips and Fabia Drake are also florid and engaging.

However, even without comparisons to Frears earlier film, "Valmont" is not a great film. Forman's version of Laclo's tale is mostly entertaining, although at 137 minutes the plot mechanisms get a little turgid after a while. The story is already known from previous adaptions and the reputation of the great novel. The romantized contrivances Forman builds into his version become cumberson because of Forman's desire to soften the edge off the main character's malice. However, to soften "Les Liaisons Dangerous" is to blunt it. This approach is like making a vampire film with the fangs pulled out, so no blood gets spilt. Roughly, what's the point? To make a sweet romance? Valmont's shenanigans will not make a hero no matter how much he apparently "repents" in the end.

Frears and actor John Malkovich understood that in "Dangeorus Liaisons." The tragedy of Valmont's characer is that he is irredeemable, which is why he allows himself to be killed. He hopes his death will bring a recovery to the woman he as wronged, but in the original version she dies anyway.His nihilistic poison is too strong to be sucked out of his victim. Valmont's final sacrifice only destroys his partner in crime (the Marquise de Merteuil), which IS a good thing, but still doesn't make him romantic. Colin Firth certainly looks the part of a charming seducer, more than the homely Malkovich. However, Malkovich has an inner fire and truly slimy charm that Firth's British reserve just can't match. Even when Firth's Valmont is seducing Fairuza Balk's Cecil, the scene is played for sexual comedy, rather than the the truly debauched, immoral rape it clearly is.

Ms. Bening is a fine actress,and has given some very good performances ("The Grifters," "American Beauty"). However her interpretation of Glenn Close's signiture role is too glib to be of lasting interest. In "Valmont" Merteuil seems more a pouting debutante, rather than a grown woman with the talent to manipulate all those around her. She always seems to be on the verge of bursting out laughing, to let everyone know how "evil" she really is. The term "camp before it's turned" applies.

All in all, Forman's take on Laclo's tale is worth a look. Some have even preferred his version over Frears, but I like a cobra to have it's fangs intact, the way nature intended. May 18, 2008

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