Dangerous Liaisons
Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons

1988
Movie
119 min
English

In 18th century France, Marquise de Merteuil asks her ex-lover Vicomte de Valmont to seduce the future wife of another ex-lover of hers in return for one last night with her. Yet things don’t go as planned.

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Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes93%
Metacritic92/100
Google Users88%
Director: Stephen FrearsGenres: Drama, Romance, Period

Plot Summary

In 18th-century France, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two cunning aristocrats, engage in a cruel game of seduction and manipulation. Their elaborate schemes involve ruining the reputation of a virtuous young woman and ensnaring a naive innocent, leading to tragic consequences. The film explores themes of betrayal, obsession, and the corrupting influence of power within the decadent French aristocracy.

Critical Reception

Dangerous Liaisons was widely acclaimed by critics for its sharp screenplay, lavish production design, and outstanding performances, particularly from Glenn Close and John Malkovich. It is often cited as a masterful adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' epistolary novel, praised for its wit, intelligence, and dark sensuality.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its intelligent and witty script that successfully translates the novel's epistolary format to the screen.
  • Lauded for the sophisticated and chilling performances of Glenn Close and John Malkovich as the manipulative aristocrats.
  • Celebrated for its exquisite period detail, costumes, and overall atmospheric direction.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's sharp dialogue, compelling performances, and intriguing plot. Many found it to be a sophisticated and darkly entertaining portrayal of aristocratic decadence and moral decay.

Awards & Accolades

Won 3 Academy Awards (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design) and was nominated for 4 others, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Glenn Close. It also received multiple BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.

Fun Fact

The film's lavish costumes, designed by James Acheson, were so historically accurate and detailed that they were inspired by actual 18th-century court fashion and are considered among the most exquisite in cinematic history.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
kevin2019

kevin2019

"Dangerous Liaisons" is unquestionably one of the most captivating films to come along in quite some time. It is a visually stunning film and it makes extremely good use of some exceptional locations and interiors and the excruciatingly unc...