Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

The film is a devilishly seductive comedy with a heart of black pulsing beneath the blushing surface. The magnificently subtle playing of the lead roles by Close, Malkovich and Pfeiffer involves the viewer so completely that the business of sexual and social point-scoring becomes not only possible but probable.

The film succeeds in conveying the carnal roots of the characters' power games and ends with forceful, shocking impact. Kael highlights the strong casting, especially Glenn Close and John Malkovich, and Stephen Frears' brisk, unsentimental direction that makes it one of the least static costume films.

The critic finds the film a handsome, intelligent adaptation that succeeds as witty, entertaining drawing-room comedy laced with decadence. He praises its restraint in not opening up the play and its focus on stylized indoor intrigue among the aristocracy.

The film is a sombre, manipulative affair that succeeds by returning to the source novel for its script and casting strong American leads. It singles out Michelle Pfeiffer's splendid performance as the virtuous woman targeted in the plot.

The critic calls the film a glittering, cinematic version of the play that retains the novel's shocking power through deliberate seductions and betrayals. She singles out the ravishing photography, costumes, production design and flowing flashbacks for particular praise while noting mixed results from the lead performances.

The film is an absorbing and seductive tragicomedy of manners about two cynical aristocrats who destroy others' loves while denying their own. Ebert praises the performances of Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer but notes it lacks some gusto and punch.

The critic calls the 1988 film the best adaptation of the novel, praising its opulent visuals and period detail along with strong performances, particularly Glenn Close in one of her best roles. They highlight the complex, intimate relationship between the central characters Merteuil and Valmont as the story's most compelling element.

The critic praises the film as a compelling depiction of decadence and ennui in 18th-century France, highlighting the masterful performances by Glenn Close and John Malkovich as the central strength while noting some tentative direction and its stage origins.