CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999)
April 16th 2008 12:06
Review of CRUEL INTENTIONS. (1999)
Genre: Drama, Thriller.
Director: Roger Kumble.
Producer: Neal H. Moritz
Screenwriter: Roger Kumble.
Cast: Ryan Phillipe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Sean Patrick Thomas, Joshua Jackson...
Runtime: 1 hr 39 minutes
It is a modernised version of the beautiful “Dangerous Liaisons” from Stephen Frears based on the 19th century French novel “les liaisons dangereuses”.
This is not the usual boring, soft teen movie that we are used to, actually very far from it! We are here in Manhattan where the teens are snob, very rich, witty, some manipulative, sex obsessed, vicious and most of all cruel.
"Before we go through with this, I just want to make sure you’re aware of the damage we're about to cause” says Sebastian to Kathryn.
Ryan Phillipe is Sebastian Valmont who is using people for sex, fun and whatever he wants. He is only 17... Sarah Michelle Gellar is Kathryn, his step-sister, she loves her coke, calls herself a bitch who pretend to be nice and is “acting like Marcia Brady from upper east side” to be the most popular girl at school.
Bored with his sexual and immoral routine (“I’m tired of sleeping with these insipid Manhattan debutantes. There’s nothing that can shock them anymore.”), Sebastian decides to set the goals higher by seducing the lovely virgin Annette Hardgrove played by Reese Witherspoon. Kathryn doesn’t believe he can do it and both make a bet. If he loses he will give her his stunning car, otherwise if he wins he gets Kathryn, the only girl he can’t have!
On the other hand, Kathryn asks him to seduce the puerile Cecile who is dating Kathryn’s ex and she wants revenge! Sarah M. Gellar does a very good job with the updated version of Glen Close’s character in the first version with the angry tirade about how men can get away with almost anything when it comes to sex, while women who like sex are called sluts. It is one of the few scenes in which Kathryn's being sincere.
Selma Blair is Cecile. Corky, awkward character, she brings fun and this dark atmosphere. She is very good as the virgin unaware of her sexual potential and completely naive. She falls in love with Ronald her music teacher (the dancer of “save the last dance” Sean Patrick Thomas) and under Kathryn’s advices takes sexual lessons with Sebastian to surprise her beau!
We can observe some racial remarks as:"I took you in off the street," insists Cecile's mother. "I live at 59th and Park!" he exclaims.
All characters go through a change, an evolution through the movie, sometimes for the best, and for some others for the worst.
Actors are in general quite good, especially Phillipe and Gellar, but 17 years old characters acting like adults and looking like them too is a bit odd.
Anyway, all through the movie we can enjoy some delicious lines in the dialogues between Sebastian and Kathryn, when he asks about her gold-digging whore of a mother, she responds by inquiring about his impotent dolt of a father. Another one from Sebastian who says: "E-mail is for geeks and paedophiles"
Also when she wants to have a ride with his car to have a try before owning it: “Kathryn the only thing you are going to be riding is me, so now if you excuse me...”
To finish, I’d like to say I thought the ending was quite good especially the last scene at the church where Kathryn starts her speech with “Bitter Sweet Symphony” from The Velve in background and then we see the students leaving the place. She gets quite angry and run outside to be handed by Cecile a copy of Sebastian personal journal with the whole truth, which the whole school has read!
Of course big moral here, bad guys don’t go unpunished, hmmm if only it was so in the real world.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.
Director: Roger Kumble.
Producer: Neal H. Moritz
Screenwriter: Roger Kumble.
Cast: Ryan Phillipe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Sean Patrick Thomas, Joshua Jackson...
Runtime: 1 hr 39 minutes
It is a modernised version of the beautiful “Dangerous Liaisons” from Stephen Frears based on the 19th century French novel “les liaisons dangereuses”.
This is not the usual boring, soft teen movie that we are used to, actually very far from it! We are here in Manhattan where the teens are snob, very rich, witty, some manipulative, sex obsessed, vicious and most of all cruel.
Ryan Phillipe is Sebastian Valmont who is using people for sex, fun and whatever he wants. He is only 17... Sarah Michelle Gellar is Kathryn, his step-sister, she loves her coke, calls herself a bitch who pretend to be nice and is “acting like Marcia Brady from upper east side” to be the most popular girl at school.
Bored with his sexual and immoral routine (“I’m tired of sleeping with these insipid Manhattan debutantes. There’s nothing that can shock them anymore.”), Sebastian decides to set the goals higher by seducing the lovely virgin Annette Hardgrove played by Reese Witherspoon. Kathryn doesn’t believe he can do it and both make a bet. If he loses he will give her his stunning car, otherwise if he wins he gets Kathryn, the only girl he can’t have!
On the other hand, Kathryn asks him to seduce the puerile Cecile who is dating Kathryn’s ex and she wants revenge! Sarah M. Gellar does a very good job with the updated version of Glen Close’s character in the first version with the angry tirade about how men can get away with almost anything when it comes to sex, while women who like sex are called sluts. It is one of the few scenes in which Kathryn's being sincere.
We can observe some racial remarks as:"I took you in off the street," insists Cecile's mother. "I live at 59th and Park!" he exclaims.
All characters go through a change, an evolution through the movie, sometimes for the best, and for some others for the worst.
Actors are in general quite good, especially Phillipe and Gellar, but 17 years old characters acting like adults and looking like them too is a bit odd.
Anyway, all through the movie we can enjoy some delicious lines in the dialogues between Sebastian and Kathryn, when he asks about her gold-digging whore of a mother, she responds by inquiring about his impotent dolt of a father. Another one from Sebastian who says: "E-mail is for geeks and paedophiles"
Also when she wants to have a ride with his car to have a try before owning it: “Kathryn the only thing you are going to be riding is me, so now if you excuse me...”
To finish, I’d like to say I thought the ending was quite good especially the last scene at the church where Kathryn starts her speech with “Bitter Sweet Symphony” from The Velve in background and then we see the students leaving the place. She gets quite angry and run outside to be handed by Cecile a copy of Sebastian personal journal with the whole truth, which the whole school has read!
Of course big moral here, bad guys don’t go unpunished, hmmm if only it was so in the real world.
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