Dangerous Liaisons (DVD)

This is one of my favourite films in the "period drama" genre. I've watched it at least a dozen times over the years and it never fails to entertain me. It runs for just under 2 hours so make sure you're comfortable as you sit down to watch. Released in 1988 and directed by Stephen Frears, this film is based on the infamous novel LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES by Choderlos de Laclos and, subsequently, the Christopher Hampton play. The producers are Norma Heyman and Hank Moonjean and the screenwriter is Christopher Hampton. It's classified as 15 and rightly so as there are some scenes of a sexual nature. ~*~ CAST/CREW ...  Read the complete review

I have watched this film so many times over the years, on my own and with friends and I never get bored of it. Every time I see it I spot something I hadn’t noticed before. Adapted from Christopher Hampton’s stage play by the playwright himself, which in turn was adapted from the book Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Lacios, director Stephen Frears directs with beautiful style and skill. Set amongst the 1780 French aristocrats in their large frocks and frilly shirts, it is the characters of John Malkovich and Glenn Close who steal the majority of the screen time. For they are the pivotal characters from which a nasty web of deceit ...  Read the complete review

I feel so fickle writing these reviews sometimes as everything must seem like my favourite !! But if this had to go onto any of my lists it would be on my 'seen a million times but still enjoy' list. It has a wonderful mix of revenge, jealousy and poetic justice about it and is based on the novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" (which I have never read so I'm unsure just how faithfully this movie keeps to the original storyline !!) The main characters are the ridiculously arrogant and uber sexy Vicomte de Valmont (played by John Malkovich ), the pious and misinterpretated Madame de Tourvel ( played by the beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer, ) the bitchy and ...  Read the complete review

I cannot blow a horn too loudly for this film: it's a classic! The book it is based on is a french classic too, but not having read it, I can't say just how closely it stays to it. Nevermind, it seems to have enough power in it, perhaps all the juicy bits.... On a big french theme: L'amour. A pretty universal theme too... The pain of love is often too dramatic for films to cope with, but this one does.... Ok, it's a costume, period drama: but you will not be bored! I think I was a teenager when I saw this, and it stayed in my mind ever since, as a film I thought very mature, and mature watching. The best kind! John Malkovitch ...  Read the complete review