Malkovich's cold and cunning characterization beats out Firth's warm and bumbling portrayal any day of the week. They were both so evil! "We were in the middle of our script already when they announced their version, based on the play," Milos Forman was remembering.....Forman's "Valmont" is a much different film from Frears' "Dangerous Liaisons," which was nominated as one of last year's best pictures. The movie itself is worth that much.You need to be a member in order to leave a comment.Sign up for a new account in our community. Though I also like Colin Firth, in this one however, the winner is Malkovich. The great cast also features Nastassia Kinski as Madame Tourvel, and Leelee Sobieski as Cecile Volanges.I've never heard of this film but I'd take Colin Firth over John Malkovich any time so will have to check this one out. John Malcovich although an amazing actor just isn't pretty enough, and the rest of the cast were a bit too 'Hollywood' to provide enough edge. Milos Forman’s film Valmontcame out in 1989, the year after Steven Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons. Not one of the actors had a bit of the charisma of Dangerous Liaisons. Valmont vs Dangerous Liaisons. Plus the lush 18th century settings and costumers were far better than Valmont's high school drama club look. Dangerously edges out on all aspects, set design, costumes, direction and acting by the main cast (except Keanu) but especially true in the main character of Valmont played by John Malkovich and Colin Firth. I first saw Bening in "The Grifters"...that is a great movie as well(much different, however).Just one more thing; I thought Fairuza Balk did a much better job of playing the ingenue, didn't you?That was an interesting piece. This was not good news for,The Warner Bros./Lorimar version, directed by. Valmont's aunt, Madame de Rosemonde. Have you seen the French version set in the 1950s? That said, what a story!From what I have read, a lot of people seemed to dismissing the 1988 film, due to their belief that Malkovich isn't attractive. Pure wood nymph.My favorite is the french made for TV version which takes place in the late 50's - early 60's, with Catherine Deneuve as Madame Merteuil and Rupert Everett as Valmont. It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals who use seduction as a weapon to socially control and exploit others, all the while enjoying their cruel games and boasting about their talent for manipulation. Thanks for the recommendation, Hazel.Have seen both but unaccountably have not seen Valmont in the past few years (I like the novel & play).

Of course Dangerous Liaisons was very good, and John Malkovich, who played Vicomte de Valmont, is an actor of power, and Glenn Close, who played the Marquise de Merteuil, is highly accomplished, but I preferred the charm of Colin Firth in this film to the brutality of Malkovich, and I thought Annette Bening was just delightful. In "Dangerous Liaisons," the characters seem turned on by the idea of seducing the innocent....As Forman explained his theories of women, love and romance, I was reminded that I was, after all, speaking with a European. In Dangerous Liaisons, the Vicomte de Valmont dies in a sword battle between him and Danceny. It was Malkovitch's very reptilian look and borderline psycho emotionlessness that make his falling for Michelle Pfeiffer's etherial Madame Marie de Tourvel so much richer than vapid Colin Firth and horribly unattractive Meg Tilly (what DID anybody see in her throughout the 80s?) It's very entertaining. So along with willow, I just put it in Netflix queue. Simple theme. Needless sensationalism.Gosh, I don't believe it, somebody has mentioned one of my favorite movies of all time, in fact at some time in the past I named it as my very favorite of all.I think the casting of Dangerous Liasons was so wrong almost across the board that Valmont is more acceptable for that reason alone. Two film versions of the same story were being made at the same time. the scene with Annette Bening in the bath is fabulous! It's easy!© 2020 Turner Classic Movies Inc. A Time Warner Company. Right before he dies, though, he gives Danceny all of his letters between him and the Marquise de Merteuil and tells him to circulate them in order to ruin Merteuils reputation. It's a feast for the senses and talk about titillating! I did not like the first one much; I was irritated by the loathsome bored aristocrats and John Malkovich creeps me out in everything he does.Poetikat - yes! Fairuza Balk was completely believable.I can't believe I've never seen this film, Firthfanatic that I am. Valmont looks like a Lifetime movie. Both are based on Chloderos Laclos' scandalous 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Interestingly enough, when I researched the Colin Firth/meg Tilly angle, I read that Firth and Everett have a not so friendly rivalry as actors.

My fave is the Rupert Everett version which is closely followed by Colin Firth. I love Catherine Deneuve and Rupert Everett. I'm not a huge fan of either, though, nor of the novel itself.Gosh, I don't believe it, somebody has mentioned one of my favorite movies of all time, in fact at some time in the past.This movie is currently on the Criterion Channel. I read the book, the English version, a few years ago. The acting in DL was far better overall with a classier cast and apparently a much bigger budget.All all text, unless otherwise noted, copyright Hazel Smith. "It was a director's nightmare. Milos Forman's direction is stellar and there is so much humour and giddiness in Valmont. Anyone who loves this story should be sure not to miss this. Forman's "Valmont" is a much different film from Frears' "Dangerous Liaisons," which was nominated as one of last year's best pictures.