Dangerous Liaisons [Blu-ray]

Spoiler alert! There are good reasons why this is a restricted (rated R) film, and as a Christian, I must say that there are things one might wish to fast-forward past while watching. However, despite the inevitable sexual immorality of this story, it still qualifies in my mind as a great morality tale about what becomes of the following situations: (1) a situation in which certain aristocrats, endowed with many material blessings, spend more time playing games of social intrigue and manipulation instead of helping those who are less fortunate; (2) the bitterness and anger that ensues when a woman such as the Marquise de Merteuil, played marvellously by Glenn Close, is trapped in a life of emotional and intellectual oppression; (3) the problems caused by arranged marriages in this particular social setting and time period; (4) when a man, the Vicomte de Valmont, rejects his strong Catholic upbringing and chooses to become a libertine; also the burning question of whether or not he is capable of finding redemption; (5) how the actions of wicked people affect the innocent around them, especially theextent to which the innocent choose to accept or reject the deceptions they encounter. The fourth situation is very well explored in this film, although, in the highest irony, Valmont's step towards redemption occurs in the midst of one of his typical affairs. Whether he is merely sorry for the hurt he caused, or truly repentant, remains a question at the end of the film. While the Marquise finally reaps what she has sown, I agree with another reviewer who viewed her with compassion because she was aproduct of the oppression of her time. Actually, I think that she is a product of her response to her time, not of the time itself. Everythingthat happens to her is ultimately brought about by her rage at the disappointments in her own life. I found myself most disturbed by what Valmont and the Marquise did to Cécile de Volanges, the young débutante and social newbie inthe film, played wonderfully by Uma Thurman. It is interesting to compare this film with another version of this same story, the 1989 film"Valmont" with Faruza Balk as Cécile and the inestimable Colin Firth as Valmont. In the film "Valmont," Cécile has a little more strength of character, and she learns more from what happens to her. It's worth noting that in the original short story, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," Cécile is traumatised for life by the events that befall her, and seeks refuge in her faith. She returns to the convent where she was schooled and becomes a nun. It's also worth noting that Cécile's surname, Volanges, literally means "flight of the angels" in French. All of the principals in the film do a splendid job, especially Michelle Pfeiffer as the much misled and wronged Madame de Tourvel who, while a victim of Valmont, also bears responsibility for her own choices. Again, it is interesting to compare Pfeiffer's performance to the performance of Meg Tilly in the same role in the film "Valmont." Many people criticise Keanu Reeves for a wooden performance, but one has to consider that this was still relatively early in his career as an actor. Also, his character lends itself to being wooden: he is the virtuous, brave and ingenuous lover, an average Joe among aristocrats with the old-fashioned, Dartagnan-like sense of honour. He had to be played with a certain amount of boyish innocence and naiveté, and I think that Reeves delivers this well enough, and he manages to do it without being insufferably maudlin. An actor could easily overdo the innocence in this part to the point of making the audience sick to their stomachs. Reeves doesn't do that. The art direction, costumes and score of this film are excellent, especially the musical score. There is one more thing I might mention. It is a temptation to view this sort of film as a commentary on typical French aristocratic behaviour before the French Revolution. I advise all who read the book or see this film (or the film "Valmont," for that matter), to rememberthat the original short story was a piece of propaganda against the ancien régime, written seven years before the Revolution. There were just as many French aristocrats who truly cared about the peasants working their estates, and who used their resources to help the poor. Granted, the aristocrats who gathered at Versailles and in Paris could be very out of touch with the working man's condition. But there were also just as many who were not out of touch at all. Many of them were too busy keeping their estates going to get involved in the sorts of intrigues depicted in this story. Also, libertines such as the Vicomte de Valmont have been found in all classes of society since thebeginning of time. I encountered men like him in college! Also, angry, bitter women like the Marquise de Merteuil can also be found in allclasses of society. A lack of choice in one's marital life and restrictions on one's intellect and behaviour can make anyone angry and bitter. So, I caution anyone who wants to view this as a true portrayal of aristocrats and upper class people. I recommend this film, but watch it when you've had some life experience. The R rating is correct: it's not for teens. Also, watch it with moral and historical discernment.

I have loved this movie since I was a teenager. At that time, I was shocked, due to my naivety, that people of that time period were not virtuous (LOL!).The original book was written in the early 1780s. I had read that Marie Antoinette had it delivered to her in a discrete package because the novel, consisting of letters, was so scandalous at the time. I'm not sure if this is true or not.As an adult, I see different aspects to the story than when I was a teenager.The scenery, clothing, and score are beautiful. The story is heartbreakingly wicked, but wonderful.

I'm actually not the biggest fan of the story in DANGEROUS LIAISONS, and I think that the other famous adaptation, CRUEL INTENTIONS, actually does a better job bringing out the juvenility by making the principals teenagers. Still, for what the story lacks in likability, DANGEROUS LIAISONS makes up in spades with class. Although the satire is still there, I much preferred the biting wit and dialogue in this version. Glenn Close has rarely been better and gets most of the choice lines/moments, but most of the rest of the cast doesn't slouch either. John Malkovich was one of the issues I had with the film. He has played a lot of devious characters before and since, but I didn't care for the way he underplayed his character's malicious intent. To be honest, his performance could have used a little more "spice." Still, he did a passable job. The only member of the cast I didn't like at all, although he has a small role, was Keanu Reeves as an effete music teacher and paramour of Uma Thurman. His line readings were awful and showed that he really isn't up to the task (at least not at this point in his career) of performances requiring some degree of dramatic heft. Aside from the sexual politics which, although betraying the period it was written in, were still well-played and explicated, my favorite aspects of the film were the production design and score. For a period piece, this ranks very high in terms of quality and attention to detail. I also liked the harpsichord-heavy score which accentuated the stylization and formality of the time (among aristocrats). The score also had moments of darkness in appropriate scenes, particularly towards the end. Ultimately, I find the idea of the story, with bored aristocrats playing sexual games with each other, to be somewhat banal and passe (not to mention, sexist), but the way it is executed in DANGEROUS LIAISONS makes it a great deal more palatable.

Simply superb interpretation of the book and stage play. I saw the stage adaptation years ago and was delighted to later see the movie. Malkovic is simply perfect as Valmont, and all the casting is wonderful.

Awesome film, but here I was hoping for English audio to be honest. Possibly my bad. Sometimes I'm too optimistic for this world...

Brilliant

Excellent product + smooth transaction = Happy customer.

"Gefährliche Liebschaften" war Stephen Frears 1988 entstandenes Hollywood-Debüt über verhängnisvolle Affären und Intrigen des französischen Adels am Vorabend der französischen Revolution. Basierend auf Christopher Hamptons Bühnenstück "Les Liasons Dangereuses", das sich an dem gleichnamigen Briefroman von Choderlos de Laclos orientierte, der als eines der Hauptwerke der französichen Literatur des 18. Jahrhunderts gilt und ausserdem ein perfektes Sittengemälde des ausgehenden Ancien Regime. Erschienen ist das Buch erstmalig 1782 und war beim damaligen Publikum sofort ein Skandal.Aus diesen 175 Briefen, die der Roman schildert, hat der Dramatiker Hampton eine Bühnenfassung realisiert und er schrieb auch das Drehbuch zum gleichnamigen Film, der 1989 mit drei Oscars ausgezeichnet wurde. Hampton bekam einen fürs Drehbuch und auch Szenenbild und Kostüme begeisterten das Kinopublikum. Leider blieben die überwältigenden Darstellerleistungen auf der Strecke. Mit ihrer Darstellung als grausame und hinterhältige Marquise de Merteuil bewies die grandiose Glenn Close, dass sie eine der ganz großen Schauspielerinnen unserer Zeit ist. Vielleicht ist ihre Darstellung einer auf ihre Weise "emanzipierten" Frau einer der besten Darstellungen in der langen Reihe der Oscar-Geschichte. Die Schauspielerin schafft es eine geheimnisvolle Verletztheit hinter ihrer triumphierenden Kälte hervorschimmern zu lassen.Während bereits die erste Szenen das Zurichten der täglichen Maskeraden des Frauenhelden Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) und der Marquise de Merteuil im Wechsel zeigt - sie werden von ihren Dienern und Dienerinnen zurechtgeschminkt und zurechtgerästet, mit Quasten gründlich gepudert, manikürt - erlebt man am Ende der Geschichte, wieviel dieser Sieg, der Triumph andere zu beherrschen und zu manipulieren, wirklich eingebracht hat. Beim Abschminken zeigt sich ein leeres Gesicht.Doch zuvor stand die Intrige, die diese beiden Hauptakteure ins Leben riefen. Die Marquise hat den Vicomte, mit dem sie früher eine Liebschaft hatte, zu sich rufen lassen, weil sie ihn braucht um eine persönliche Rache zu vollziehen.Ihr Liebhaber hat sie verlassen, denn der möchte die behütet hinter Klostermauern aufgewachsene 16jährige Cecile de Volanges (Uma Thurman) ehelichen. Der Vicomte hat den Ruf, dass er jede Frau erfolgreich erobern kann. Was liegt also näher ihn auf das junge naive Mädchen, dass noch nichts von der Welt gesehen hat, anzusetzen und ihr ihre Jungfräulichkeit zu nehmen, auf die das potentielle Racheopfer besonderen Wert legt. Doch dem Vicomte erscheint diese Aufgabe zu leicht. Er lehnt ab. Und so kommt es zu einem anderen Plan. Wenn es dem Vicomte gelingt die verheiratete, prüde, fromme und treue Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer) erobern kann, dann würde dies seinen Ruf unsterblich machen. Mehr noch: Als Belohnung sichert ihm die Marquise zu, dass sie ihm eine unvergessliche Liebesnacht schenken wird. Madame de Tourvel weilt seit längerer Zeit auf dem Landsitz von Madame de Rosemonde (Mildred Natwick), der Tante des Vicomte. Dort werden auch im laufe der Geschichte Cecile und ihre Mutter (Swoosie Kurtz) eintreffen, denn das Mädchen hat sich in den Chevalier Raphael Danceny (Keanu Reeves) verguckt, der leider kein Vermögen hat. So ist die Flucht aufs Land das beste, um die bevorstehende Heirat als Jungfrau nicht zu vermasseln. Es ist auch Madame de Volonges, die mit Madame de Tourvel brieflichen Kontakt hat und sie eindringlich vor dem lüsternen Vicomte warnt. Da sein Diener (Peter Capaldi) sich Nachts mit der Zofe von Madame de Tourvel vergnügt, kommt der Vicomte durch geschickte Erpressung an diese Briefe und weiß nun, wer ihn verleumdet. Dies stachelt ihn auf neben seinen Plan die Verheiratete Frau zu erobern, auch noch zusätzlich Ceciles Unschuld zu nehmen.Er kann am Ende sogar auch Madame de Tourvel erobern - mehr noch: Er verliebt sich zum ersten Mal richtig. Die Liebe mit ihr sei das Schönste, was er je genossen habe - nun will er auch seine Belohung von der Marquise. Doch die erstarrt, als sie ihn schwärmen hört. Zu Tode in ihrer Eitelkeit verletzt, lehnt sie es ab ihm die versprochene Nacht zu gewähren und so richten sie die beiden in der Folge konsequent zugrunde...Im selben Jahr drehte auch Milos Forman nach demselben Stoff seinen Film "Valmont", der zwar auch gut gelungen ist, aber nicht mit diesen messenscharfen Dialogen und den überwältigenden Darstellerleistungen von Close, Malkovich und Pfeiffer mithalten kann. Natürlich ist "Dangerous Liasons" auch ein Ausstattungsfest erster Güte. Dennoch vermeidet es Frears sich daran zu berauschen. Ganz im Gegenteil stellt er diesen Überdruss an Genuss immer wieder bloß, er blickt stattdessen in die verdorbenen Fratzen des Rokoko.