Dangerous Liaisons

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Dangerous Liaisons

R

1988

2h 0m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

The Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) display the petty jealousies and jaded insouciance of life in France's royal court in the 18th century, casually ruining the lives of de Merteuil's young romantic rival (Uma Thurman), the music teacher (Keanu Reeves) for whom she secretly pines and the upstanding Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer). But when actual romantic feelings begin to surface, their games take on a more treacherous air.

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Critics Consensus

Stylish, seductive, and clever, Stephen Frears' adaptation is a wickedly entertaining exploration of sexual politics.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/12/2023

This is a first-rate piece of work by a director who’s daring and agile. The unfussiness of Frears’ approach is tonic. The movie gets at the important things and doesn’t linger over them. It’s heaven -- alive in a way that movies of classics rarely are.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

12/07/2022

A decadent celebration of wanton cruelty.

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Variety Staff

Variety

02/08/2008

This incisive study of sex as an arena for manipulative power games takes too long to catch fire and suffers from a deficient central performance.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Dec 30

2/4

The trouble in "Dangerous Liaisons" is that its talented American cast seems totally at sea in coping with the pre-French Revolution aristocrats they're struggling to portray.

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

09/12/2022

4/5

[Puts] a handsome gloss on sordid material in a way that might not quite feel "dangerous", but is at least extremely bracing.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

06/14/2022

Cynical, fierce, and in the end desperately romantic, this is the most beautiful movie of 1988. [Full review in Spanish]

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Ivan F

@Neogrey 4d

Apart from how painfully beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman are, and the exquisite and exorbitant set designs and wardrobes, not much to like here. Malkovich may be convincing as as a sleazeball but not as a romantic in love. Glen Close is terrific. The final fight scene between Malkovich and Keanu is hilarious - haven't read the book soni don't know if it's like this originally.

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Ann W

@Doxiegirl Dec 11

A flawed movie but will stay with you. Every time I watch it, I feel like scenes are missing in the very important relationship between John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. I feel like their relationship needed a few more scenes for the viewer to really connect to it. I cannot believe Pfeiffer’s character falling for him when he is so sleazy. Yes, she is supposed to be naive, but Malkovich is just not a convincing romantic lead, however, he does a fine job in the latter part of the movie. Glenn Close is exceptional. Art direction is great.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 8

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Ray B.

@RayBrennanFilmmaker Nov 17

“ When it comes to marriage one man is as good as the next,” were wise words once uttered. Jan Malkovich’s performance leaves little to be desired, for a classic timeless work of art endures always. The parallels between Rushmore and Vertigo can not be mistaken. Perhaps no greater words have ever been uttered than when Madeline speaks through the ages. The inimitable Kim Novak seems to have awoken in this flic. A+

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Casey Lynn T

@RT27481156 Nov 14

I first saw this movie in a humanities class at FSU in 1991, and watching it this evening m is no less captivating. Beautiful, vicious, poignant, and painful - one of my all-time favourite movies.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Nov 13

This was a great movie filled with brilliant performances. Malcovich and Glenn were paired perfectly together. A jaw dropping ending. Tim Treakle

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Stephen Frears

Director

Glenn Close

Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil

John Malkovich

Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont

Michelle Pfeiffer

Madame de Tourvel

Swoosie Kurtz

Madame de Volanges

Keanu Reeves

Raphael Danceny

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Synopsis

The Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) display the petty jealousies and jaded insouciance of life in France's royal court in the 18th century, casually ruining the lives of de Merteuil's young romantic rival (Uma Thurman), the music teacher (Keanu Reeves) for whom she secretly pines and the upstanding Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer). But when actual romantic feelings begin to surface, their games take on a more treacherous air.

Director: Stephen Frears
Producer: Norma Heyman, Hank Moonjean
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: NFH Productions, Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1988, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.7M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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