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Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Meg Tilly, Fairuza Balk, Sian Phillips ... see more see more... , Fabia Drake , Jeffrey Jones , Henry Thomas , T.P. McKenna , Isla Blair , Ian McNeice , Aleta Mitchell , Ronald Lacey , Vincent Schiavelli , Sandrine Dumas , Alain Frerot , Yvette Petit , Nils Tavernier , John Arnold , Antony Carrick , Richard de Burnchurch , Sebastien Floche , Murray Gronwall , Daniel Laloux , Jose Licenziato , Ivan Palec , Christian Bouillette

The third adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' classic novel Les Liasons Dangereuses, Milos Forman's Valmont was released one year after Stephen Frears' more famous version of the de Laclos original, Da... read more read more...ngerous Liaisons. The plot remains the same: two debauched, depraved 18th century French aristocrats, the Vicomte de Valmont (Colin Firth) and the Marquise de Merteuil (Annette Bening), conspire to destroy several innocent lives, just for the fun of it. But whereas Stephen Frears concentrated on the machinations of the marquise, Forman, per his film's title, devotes most of his screen space to Valmont (played in the Frears version by John Malkovich). In fact, Forman's film concludes with Valmont's conscience-stricken renunciation of his past sins, and his duel to the death, rather than de Meurteil's well-deserved comeuppance. Forman has chosen to set the story back some 50 years, de-emphasizing the opulence that was vital to Frears' vision; he has also utilized a younger cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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67% liked it

9,078 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

10 critics

R, 2 hr. 17 min.

Directed by: Milos Forman

Release Date: November 1, 1989

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DVD Release Date: May 14, 2002

Stats: 371 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (371)


  • April 2, 2007
    I thought this was the better of the two 80's versions. Subtler.
  • May 12, 2006
    Holy cra--You know how loads of non-American actors, when they're doing a movie that requires it, take the time to perfect their American accents? Why is it that so few American actors do the same thing when they are playing parts in movies that place them in countries outside t... read morehe US? People like Paltrow can do it. Why is that?



    Well, first off, ideally this would have been a script written in French. But if we're going to do the French-speak-English thing, then what is it with Benning? Is she on something in this? Horrors. A total embarrassment.

  • December 31, 2009
    It was interesting to see all the manipulation and effort put towards getting revenge, but the ending fell short.
  • November 9, 2007
    This film is an interesting insight into the collection of works that Firth has selected to take on.
  • July 31, 2011
    Not as good as Dangerous Liaisons. I don't know why Milos Forman changed the ending to a much softer one. It gave the movie a completely different tone.
  • June 10, 2011
    Another Wonderful Version of Dangerous Liaisons, which has Merits Unique to it's own Style of Story Telling.I Love Annette Bening in this, as well as Meg Tilly's Innocence is the best of all the Versions.Lovely & Naughty
  • April 2, 2010
    Though Colin Firth tries his hardest to pull off being a French asshole, he was not made for this part. Annette Bening offers a strong performance, though a bit over the top. I'm a fan of period pieces, but this one was hard to get into with most of the characters being without r... read moreedeeming qualities. Henry Thomas was about the only thing worth seeing in this - not for his mediocre performance, but because he's freakin' Eliott.
  • March 11, 2010
    It has it's moments and Fairuza
    Balk is an adorable Cecile but I found myself comparing every other cast member to their Dangerous Liaisons counterpart and they paled by comparison.
  • February 20, 2009
    Valmont: You are confusing bets and marriages, madame. One must always honor a bet.

    A very crooked period piece.
  • September 3, 2008
    Enjoyable movie, but no reason to really watch it unless you're just curious to see how the same plot of Dangerous Liasons can get re-written and re-shot. It felt more "family friendly" and definitely not sexy at all.

Critic Reviews


Gregory Weinkauf
October 22, 2003
Gregory Weinkauf, New Times

Just as good as that other one, maybe better.

James Sanford
July 15, 2003
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Nice try, but Glenn, John and Michelle did it much better

May 20, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
June 6, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
November 30, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Susan Granger
October 29, 2007
Susan Granger, www.susangranger.com

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
November 23, 2004
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Facts


    • Marquise de Merteuil: I think you're as awful as I am. That's why we should never be enemies. We should always be friends...good friends.
    • Cecile de Volanges: Um... Can we just write this time?
    • Vicomte de Valmont: What then have I done? What, except yield to a natural feeling, inspired by beauty, sanctioned by virtue and kept at all times within the bounds of respect. It's innocent expression prompted not by hope but by trust.

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Valmont Trivia


  • What actress plays the young girl Cecile whose "tutor" is Monsieur Viconte de Valmont in th movie "Dangerous Liaisons"?  Answer »
  • in the film Dangerous Liasons who played Vicomte De Valmont?  Answer »
  • Which actor plays the role of Valmont in Milos Foman's film Valmont?  Answer »
  • Who played the character Sebastian Valmont in Cruel Intentions?  Answer »

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