Dangerous Liaisons 1988

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Dangerous Liaisons ★★★ 1988 (R)

Stylish and absorbing, this adaptation of the Laclos novel and the Christopher Hampton play centers around the relationship of two decadent members of 18th-century French nobility. The Mar-quise de Merteuil (Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Malkovich) spend their time testing and manipulating the loves of others. Merteuil wishes Valmont to deflower teenager Cecile (Thurman) while Valmont himself is after the virtuous married Madame de Tourvel (Pfeiffer). They find love often has a will of its own. Interesting to comparison-view with director Milos For-man's version of this story, 1989's “Val-mont.” 120m/C VHS, DVD . John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves, Swoosie Kurtz, Mildred Natwick, Peter Capaldi; D: Stephen Frears; W: Christopher Hampton; C: Philippe Rousselot; M: George Fenton. Oscars '88: Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec., Costume Des.; British Acad. '89: Adapt. Screenplay, Support. Actress (Pfeiffer); Cesar '90: Foreign Film; Writers Guild '88: Adapt. Screenplay.