Valmont [1989] [All Region]

While the movie "Dangerous Liaisons" (a literal translation of Choderlos Laclos's novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses") was also much more literal in following the plot of the book, I found it disappointing. It had a good script, a good cast, but no soul. John Malkovich was not Valmont, Glenn Close was not Madame de Merteuil, and I couldn't remotely envision either of them generating sparks either off each other or anyone else. But Milos Forman's reworking of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" as the movie "Valmont" is a success all around, and a much better film than its predecessor.There are two areas in which the movie departs radically from the book. I always thought the ending of the book was too slanted toward the need to show that crime does not pay, and hence Madame de Merteuil gets her comeuppance in a disastrous lawsuit which reduces her to penury and a confluent smallpox which makes a transfigures her beauty into ugliness ("her soul is visible on her face"). In "Valmont", however, Forman realizes that evil often wins out, after a fashion, and so we have Madame de Merteuil, if not flaunting it over her rivals, still able to be herself and continue her life of malicious intrigue. The story opens when Madame de Merteuil, to revenge herself on being dumped by her lover the Count de Gercourt, who is going to marry Cecile de Volanges, a young girl right out of the convent whom he prizes for her innocence and virginity (a polar opposite from Madame de Merteuil who is amorality itself), maneuvers Valmont, her old friend and former lover, to seduce Cecile before her marriage, so that Gercourt will realize on his wedding night that he is getting damaged goods after all. Annette Bening was devastating in this role. She brought out all of the Madame de Merteuil's superficial charm which captivated so many people, and her underlying deviousness and soullessness. Colin Firth, who was hopelessly miscast as Darcy in the A&E production of "Pride and Prejudice", was just right as Valmont; unlike Malkovich, whose portrayal of Valmont was purely one-dimensional, Firth also showed the character's vulnerability and sensitivity which he tried to mask behind his cynicism. And Fairuza Balk was a delight as Cecile de Volanges; one wants to ask how anyone over the age of seven could be so hopelessly naive. But the biggest treat in this movie is Fabia Drake as Madame de Rosemonde, Valmont's old aunt. In the book, Madame de Rosemonde is a saintly contrast to Valmont's predatory selfishness; in this movie, she is wickedly funny and much more in sync with her nephew than she is in the book. (There is a delicious bit near the movie's end where Madame de Rosemond and Cecile share a joke at Gercourt's expense, right in the middle of Cecile's wedding.)The second area where the movie and the book part company is the fate of Madame de Tourvel. Madame de Tourvel is the faithful wife who finally surrenders, against her better judgement, to the man she loves; only to discover that she has been used and abandoned. In the book, this so devastates her that she retires to a convent and dies of a broken heart. In the movie, however, she follows Valmont out of desperation, gets him to take her back into his bed for one more night, and coming to her senses in the morning, abandons him as he had previously left her, returning to her husband. Valmont is a truly pitiable figure at this point, especially when he realizes that Madame de Merteuil has played him far more effectively than he thought he was playing Madame de Tourvel; Firth's acting in this movie makes us sympathize with Valmont, whereas Malkovich just made us glad he got what was coming to him.In the end, "Valmont" is not "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" and it doesn't try to be. It's a reworking of the book on its own merit, and it stands up brilliantly.

great period-piece movie.. attention to detail of sets/designs - incredible. Definitely recommended if you like late 1700s/ early 1800s timeframe movies/shows... (dvd itself was just fine - no issues with it).

Excellent adaptation of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Great acting by everyone and the video quality is impeccable.

What big-budget effort from a major director has ever suffered such damnable obscurity? "Valmont" is one of the most idiosyncratic and playful films of latter-day cinema, which might help to explain how it failed to capture Oscar attention on the heels of "Dangerous Liaisons" but hardly accounts for why it has been so unreadily available since. Amongst other things, this film gave Annette Bening and Colin Firth their first major roles, Fairuza Balk her first adult one, and proved the parting bow from the enchanting Fabia Drake. This may yet prove the best performance from Bening, a major performer still in the midst of a grand career. Her interpretation of the Marquise de Merteuil combines the physical allure of Giselle before the camera with the verbal vivacity of a Madonna interview. Meg Tilly captures the allure of every self-doubting young married woman in her Tourvel, and Fairuza Balk, in counterpoint to her tough, Gothy teenagers, plays Cecile as a blushing nymph. And Colin Firth is delightful as an unself-conscious rake-- Forman's thorough rerendering of Laclos' material reinvents each major character, and the cast uniformly does very well in a film that deliberately thwarts dramatic intensity in favor of creating a mood of both sensual abandon and moral ambiguity. The ending in particular forces the viewer to ask a great deal about the feelings of each of these characters. And what a visual masterpiece! Forman's pictorial sense, abetted by Miroslav Ondricek's ingenious cinematography, makes "Valmont" one of the most stunning films ever shot-- if Fragonard had been able to make a film, it really would have looked like this. Hopefully this tenderhearted, erotic film will finally receive the audience it demands.

Had this film on DVD, but due to its lavishness, I wanted to upgrade it to a Blu-ray. Unfortunately, that meant I had to import a region locked (A) US disc as it's not released in Europe. Directed by Milos Forman; One Flew Over the Cuckoos' Nest; Hair & Amadeus being amongst his better know American films, the version of "Dangerous Liaisons|" is, I think, superior to the film directed by Stephen Frears. -Not that he did a bad job of directing, but casting in "Valmont", appears far more believable. Annette Bening marvellously plays the role that was Glenn Close part. She appears less harsh and therefor more seductive and believable. Likewise is Colin Firth a superior choice to the very esteemed actor John Malcovich; -you have little trouble in imagining him bedding every woman who takes his fancy. Meg Tilly matches a very excellent Michelle Pfieffer, but crucial it iis the young lovers parts that "Valmont" has got so right. Uma Thurman, though excellent never quite looked young and innocent enough for the part of Cecile. Fairuza Balk is totally convincing in that part. And Henry Thomas (Eliot in E.T.) acts rings around the rather wooded Keanu Reeves.The set design is an absolute marvel to behold and this film should be far better known than its counterpart.A commentary track; and an interview (a very good one) with Milos Forman + a trailer rounds up the extras. But don't forget, in Europe, you'll need a multi-region player to savour this film on Blu ray.

Pour moi, la meilleure interprétation en film du livre "Les liaisons dangereuses". Belle musique d'ambiance.

Il s'agit d'une adaptation très libre du roman de Choderlos de Laclos, ''Les Liaisons Dangereuses''. Même si Milos Forman en prend large avec l'histoire du roman, le film est très intéressant et se laisse aisément regarder. Stephen Frears en avait également une adaptation en 1988, plus fidèle au roman, mais les personnages de ''Valmont'' sont un tantinet plus sympathiques, bien qu'aussi libertins. J'ai adoré le film.

Esta es, tal vez, la mejor película mejor de las basadas en la obra Relaciones peligrosas. Lamentablemente, la obra maestra de Milos Forman salió el mismo año que la versión pésima con las estrellas Glen Close y John Malkovich. La película de Forman no podía igualar la fama de esas estrellas. Pero la capacidad de actuar, el encanto y la belleza de Colin Firth y Annette Benning no se pueden vencer. Los dos desempeñan su papel a la perfección, y con encanto: la intriga y el deseo de poder, por supuesto, pero también la decepción en el amor que causó su caída.Fue maravillosamente filmado en localizaciones magníficas. El guión era inteligente y ingenioso. Los personajes estaban encantadores. La calidad de la versión Blu-ray es muy buena. Y el final fantástico de Milos Forman era tan emocionante que sería muy difícil igualarlo.

Greatly enjoyed seeing this movie again. It’s been many years since I originally saw it in the theatre. However I felt that the video had been edited with scenes missing from the original release. The various story arcs felt incomplete yet I distinctly remember scenes not in the video which explained the main characters intention. My husband also had the same comment. Regardless, this remains a fun movie to watch.