All the sexual intrigue is somewhat difficult to follow, as Valmont seems to be after all the ladies regardless of wagers and so on and so forth, and it is unclear what difference it makes to the original wager if Valmont also seduces Tourvel. Keanu Reeves plays somebody or other as well (a suitor of Cécile), but he looks lost and barely registers. Uma Thurman plays the vixenish Cécile de Volanges.Īnyway, that is the story. Valmont succeeds and fails at his various quests, and how he succeeds and fails forms the balance of the tale. Merteuil and Valmont modify their bet to include Tourvel. Tourvel happens to be married, religious, and completely unavailable. Valmont, who wants to sleep with all the ladies regardless of whether they are married or engaged or whatever, then goes to work.Īlong the way, though, Valmont falls in love with someone else entirely, Madame de Tourvel ( Michelle Pfeiffer). Merteuil promises to sleep with Valmont if he succeeds in his quest of seducing Cécile. Merteuil and Valmont thus make a wager on whether Valmont can seduce Cécile. Valmont, though, is hesitant and wants something in return. She asks Valmont to seduce Cécile, thereby getting her revenge on Gercourt. Merteuil knows all about Valmont's reputation and wishes to use his skill to her advantage. Although Merteuil apparently dumped Valmont in the past, now she wants to ask a favor of him. Valmont and Merteuil used to be together, and they remain friends (their 'friendship' is somewhat murky and may be more or less than that). Glenn Close plays Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil, a woman of high means and low morals. John Malkovich plays Vicomte de Valmont, a classic French rake who specializes in seducing young virgins. Glenn Close and Uma Thurman in 'Dangerous Liaisons.' Uma plays Cécile de Volanges, a naive, easily manipulated young girl. The reason to see 'Dangerous Liaisons' can be encapsulated in two words: Uma Thurman. Don't get me wrong, 'Dangerous Liaisons' is a quality film, chock full of quality actors and production people, but costume dramas are a dime a dozen. Dangerous Liaisons ( 1988), directed by Stephen Frears, won three Oscars (for costumes, adapted screenplay, and art decoration), but none of the Oscars have any relation to why you might want to see 'Dangerous Liaisons' today.

Dangerous liaisons broadway review