Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is based on the classic Laclos novel of 1782, Les Liasons Dangereuses, or Dangerous Liaisons. It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillipe as the despicable step-siblings Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont who have so much wealth and time on their hands, that they have nothing better to do than make other people's lives miserable. When Kathryn's boyfriend dumps her for the innocent and naïve Cecille Caldwell, she decides to get even by having Sebastian sleep with, deflower, and basically turn Cecile into a tramp. Sebastian agrees to this, because it will be so easy; he's slept with most of the female population of Manhattan by now anyway, so he's pretty bored with the whole thing. He decides that he needs a challenge, and sets his own sights on sleeping with Annette Hargrove, played by Reese Witherspoon, the chaste and virginal daughter of the new headmaster who has vowed to remain that way until she has fallen in love with someone. Kathryn and Sebastian make a bet; if he succeeds in sleeping with Annette before the summer break is over, he gets to sleep with Kathryn herself, something he has wanted to do for years. If however he fails, he must give Kathryn his priceless 1956 Jaguar. This is obviously not something to be taken lightly, and after some thought, Sebastian agrees. Of course, as you might expect, such honourable intentions as these do not work out exactly as Sebastian hopes, and therein lies the part of the plot that must remain undisclosed.
Although I have not read the novel, I have seen the excellent film Dangerous Liaisons, starring John Malkovich and Glenn Close. I don't know if Ryan Phillippe has seen this film, but by golly he does a pretty good imitation of Malkovich's Valmont. Perhaps it's just that Valmont was so well written in the novel that an actor can't help but portray him in a certain way, but whatever, Phillippe's job is absolutely brilliant; he's charming, yet cold, calculating, mean, hostile, and downright crazy it seems. He puts on a different personality depending on whom he's with, and one can never guess if he's telling the truth or just lying again for his own selfish reasons.
The only problems I had with the film were first, the few embarrassing moments involving Cecille's naivity, and second, the fact that I found myself constantly comparing it to Dangerous Liaisons, wondering how the next scene would be played, how for example, they would bring a sword-fight up to date in modern New York City. Well, I'm pleased to say that the director, Roger Kumble, has done a great job of converting an 18th century story to a 20th century one. There's just one thing...pay no attention to what Valmont has to say about email.