A wonderful and passionate costume drama

Stephen Frears brings De Laclos' novel to life with this stylish and spiteful adaptation. Glenn Close and John Malkovich excel in their best roles to date as the conniving Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont respectively. In order to get her revenge on a man who jilted her, Merteuil persuades Valmont to seduce the man's virginal fiancee.

Valmont agrees but also makes his own challenge to Merteuil; If he can seduce the notoriously faithful Madame de Tourvel(Michele Pfieffer), then Merteuil will grant him a night in her bed. The pair continue with their scheming but Valmont soon finds his genuine feelings for Tourvel getting in the way.

This is a top-notch period drama, dripping with venom and taking delight in the amorality of it's characters. Sumptiously shot and with beautiful production design and costumes, the film looks a treat. But Frears never lets the period trappings stifle the actors and the cast respond with great performances.

Malkovich and Close really revel in their roles as the chief manipulators with Close making a particularly strong impression. Pfeiffer and Thurman are also convincing as Valmont's conquests but a brief role for Keanu Reeves simply doesn't work(who's bright idea was it to put Reeves in a costume drama?)

Despite a couple of flaws, and wavering accents, this is a costume drama as it should be made. Often in period films the characters seem to be like robots, buttoned up and emotionless. 'Dangerous Liaisons' understands that the people who lived in 18th century France had the same desires as those living in any other period, lust, revenge, power. Frears' film is a fascinating depiction of sexual manipulation; pulsing with passion and dripping with venom.