This is one of the three best adaptations (This, Valmont, Dangerous Liaisons). People seem not to like it but I loved when I saw it. Maybe this is just because i read it before i read the novel and it was the first adaptation i saw. But, whatever, you say it is Vadim's best film. the updating in this film is ten times better than cruel intentions, which simply does not work in terms of update. Cruel Intentions does not make us very well understand the big deal about screwing Cecile. Even though it is not as much of a big deal in this film as it would have in the 18th century, it is still pretty big. I also love the idea that Valmont and Merteul are husband and wife. Although it changes some plot things from the novel, I think it works because of its simplicity and it also gives an excellent reason for what they do: They do it, selfishly, so as not to destroy their own relatonhip. Gerard Philippe and Janne Moreau's acting is absolutely superb. It is completely realistic and, like Yves Montand and Daniel Autel in Jean De Florette, it makes us realize that what they do is something we could as well unlike John Malkovich and Clenn Close in Dangereous Liaisons who are way too evil to be believed or understood.
Review of Dangerous Liaisons
