Dangerous Liaisons (1988, R)

A while back, I took a class on British literature in the Restoration era and the 18^th century.  Though novel this film is based on is French, so much of Dangerous Liaisons could have been taken directly from a William Wycherley play or Earl of Rochester poem.  Wit as sport, people-watching at the theatre, and arch innuendo.  Oh, and cleavage.  This movie has cleavage for days.

 

Dangerous Liaisons follows the lives of French aristocrats the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuill, whose favorite pastime is playing sexy mind games with those around them.  Far from simple bedpost-notch conquests, these games stand to ruin people’s lives.  Whether their machinations are performed for revenge, entertainment, or bragging rights, the well-being of their sexual chess pieces doesn’t even register.

 

Fellow aristocrats are the targets of these games, but they’re not the only ones involved.  PC plays Azolan, the Vicomte’s dutiful manservant.  To further the Vicomte’s goals, Azolan is called on to spy, bribe, and blackmail, not to mention play begrudging seducer to a lady’s maid.

 

Since, as Azolan, PC’s job is mainly to look good in 18^th-century garb and do what the Vicomte tells him, we don’t know a lot about Azolan or what he wants.  Does he enjoy taking part in the Vicomte’s manipulations?  Is he only in it for the money?  Does he have any qualms about his duties?  Who knows?  As such, it’s difficult to say much about the performance.  There are flashes of characterization – his constant complaints about the maid he’s been instructed to bed are pretty funny – but overall, he’s just a prop in someone else’s story.

 

I should say that Dangerous Liaisons stars the likes of 25-years-younger John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Uma Thurman, and Michelle Pfeiffer.  Uma Thurman, in fact, was only 18 at the time!

 

Accent Watch

 

Scottish.  Let me tell you, this is an oddly-accent film.  All the aristocrats have generic American accents, while the lower classes have assorted regional U.K. accents.  Of course, they’re all technically speaking French anyway, but it seems like a weird choice to indicate different classes by using accents from different continents.  Plus, Azolan is the only non-aristocrat with more than a few lines, which makes it feel like a bunch Americans and one random Scot.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Depends on the recommendee.  It’s a well-made representation of the era, and there’s some great acting, but the leads are such monsters, ruining peoples’ lives just for fun.

 

PC-wise – Not necessarily.  The performance is only fine, and Azolan isn’t terribly important.

 

Warnings

 

Lots of sex, though the camera usually cuts away while it’s still just making out.  Still, all sorts of sexual discussion and content, and brief nudity.  Also, a little violence and light swearing.