CRUEL INTENTIONS / (1999) ***
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Louise Fletcher, Joshua Jackson, Christine Baranski, and Swoosie Kurtz. Written and Directed by Roger Kumble. Running time: 95 minutes. Rated R (for contorted sexual situations, sexually explicit dialogue including language, and some drug content).
"Cruel Intentions" is as fiendishly sleazy as movies now days come. The film begins introducing us to a lurid sex plot and gradually becomes more earthly. The main character is Sebastian Valmont, played accurately by Ryan Phillippe. His character is as close to being a gigolo as people otherwise come--without pay but earning more self respect for each girl he beds. Sebastian, rich and wicked, lives in a mansion in modern day Manhattan with his stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Together they run a prep school in their house.
The film's opening scene develops Sebastian in a relative and accurate manor. He has just seduced the daughter of his psychiatrist, Dr. Greenbaum (Swoosie Kurtz). As he calmly trots out of her office, he keenly picks up another bimbo who kindly greets him. As he returns to his house, the movie has even more fun developing Kathryn. She has a new student in her prep school named Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair). This sheltered girl, daughter of the rich and snobbish Mrs. Caldwell (Christine Baranski), is the affection of Kathryn's ex-love interest. "Keep your friends close--but keep your enemies closer" states Kathryn in an enticing scene. Jealousy is the motive why Kathryn is in the midst of a cruel scandal to destroy Cecile's reputation. The proposition to seduce her is Sebastian's duty.
Sebastian agrees to Kathryn's scheme, but is tired of having sex with so many easy targets, and imagines bigger fish to fry. His ambition is Annette (Reese Witherspoon), the virginal daughter of the new headmaster at their school, who has a strong will and believes in abstinence before marriage. Sebastian reads about her in Seventeen magazine in which she wrote an article. He lusts for challenge and conquest, and is proposed an offer by his stepsister: If he can persuade Annette to engage in sexual activity with him, he will get his hands on Kathryn, the girl he has been lusting for ever since their parents became married. If he fails, his stepsister will receive his valuable classic automobile.
The story is introduced through dialogue, although in this context the film does not run into problems with this conduct. The first act is a bit short and to the point. Whereas the segment still accomplishes its duties appropriately, it could have easily been more progressive.
A lot of "Cruel Intentions" is short and to the point-and that is not always a positive variable. Some of the film's characters are a bit too obvious. Much of that is due to the movie's stunningly direct usage of explicit sex-related dialogue (even though I share considerable gratitude towards the smart and tempting colloquy). Take the scene in which Cecile frankly describes the feelings of sex, for instance. Her vulnerability and gullibility for relationships is as conspicuous as any poorly crafted, modern day teenage sex movie.
"Cruel Intentions" is one of the most stylish and visually lush movies of 1999. Each scene contains either snobbish characters, splendid costume and set design, a glamorous atmosphere, or solid substance. Contributing to the film's mood is the embellished soundtrack that consists of many tone settings and rhythmic melodies. My recommendation is mostly in part by the movie's elegance.
Although convincing and applicable, there is a large amount of characters present here, as well as numerous occurrences and subplots, all of which are not precisely focused on the two main possible outcomes. Either Kathryn will win Sebastian's prized car or Sebastian will win Kathryn's physical willingness. Since these are cruel intentions, we really have no one moral enough to root for except Annette. The Caldwells do not contribute much to the real story here, acting as a subplot that drifts further and further from focus as the movie progresses into the third act.
The production is effective in its storytelling with many shapely characters and a risqué theme. However, when the persuasive story follows the effects of cupid's arrow on Sebastian, it turns from a devilishly intriguing tale into a misguided love saga. "Cruel Intentions" does a complete 180 degrees turn from appetizing seduction and cruelty to formulaic passion--losing most of its sense of style. Perhaps this is the only method director and writer Roger Kumble could conclude with this trashy of a plot. Even if that was the case, however, what is this film's climatic sequence trying to prove? Without giving the ending away, I will state that it is unpredictable, but also unsuccessful. The film concludes with more positive areas than negative, but with a second half like this, Roger Kumble truly must have had Cruel Intentions for teasing us with so much unrestrained allure--then holding out on us for a modern morality tale.
Brought to you by Columbia Pictures.
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Louise Fletcher, Joshua Jackson, Christine Baranski, and Swoosie Kurtz. Written and Directed by Roger Kumble. Running time: 95 minutes. Rated R (for contorted sexual situations, sexually explicit dialogue including language, and some drug content).
"Cruel Intentions" is as fiendishly sleazy as movies now days come. The film begins introducing us to a lurid sex plot and gradually becomes more earthly. The main character is Sebastian Valmont, played accurately by Ryan Phillippe. His character is as close to being a gigolo as people otherwise come--without pay but earning more self respect for each girl he beds. Sebastian, rich and wicked, lives in a mansion in modern day Manhattan with his stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Together they run a prep school in their house.
The film's opening scene develops Sebastian in a relative and accurate manor. He has just seduced the daughter of his psychiatrist, Dr. Greenbaum (Swoosie Kurtz). As he calmly trots out of her office, he keenly picks up another bimbo who kindly greets him. As he returns to his house, the movie has even more fun developing Kathryn. She has a new student in her prep school named Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair). This sheltered girl, daughter of the rich and snobbish Mrs. Caldwell (Christine Baranski), is the affection of Kathryn's ex-love interest. "Keep your friends close--but keep your enemies closer" states Kathryn in an enticing scene. Jealousy is the motive why Kathryn is in the midst of a cruel scandal to destroy Cecile's reputation. The proposition to seduce her is Sebastian's duty.
Sebastian agrees to Kathryn's scheme, but is tired of having sex with so many easy targets, and imagines bigger fish to fry. His ambition is Annette (Reese Witherspoon), the virginal daughter of the new headmaster at their school, who has a strong will and believes in abstinence before marriage. Sebastian reads about her in Seventeen magazine in which she wrote an article. He lusts for challenge and conquest, and is proposed an offer by his stepsister: If he can persuade Annette to engage in sexual activity with him, he will get his hands on Kathryn, the girl he has been lusting for ever since their parents became married. If he fails, his stepsister will receive his valuable classic automobile.
The story is introduced through dialogue, although in this context the film does not run into problems with this conduct. The first act is a bit short and to the point. Whereas the segment still accomplishes its duties appropriately, it could have easily been more progressive.
A lot of "Cruel Intentions" is short and to the point-and that is not always a positive variable. Some of the film's characters are a bit too obvious. Much of that is due to the movie's stunningly direct usage of explicit sex-related dialogue (even though I share considerable gratitude towards the smart and tempting colloquy). Take the scene in which Cecile frankly describes the feelings of sex, for instance. Her vulnerability and gullibility for relationships is as conspicuous as any poorly crafted, modern day teenage sex movie.
"Cruel Intentions" is one of the most stylish and visually lush movies of 1999. Each scene contains either snobbish characters, splendid costume and set design, a glamorous atmosphere, or solid substance. Contributing to the film's mood is the embellished soundtrack that consists of many tone settings and rhythmic melodies. My recommendation is mostly in part by the movie's elegance.
Although convincing and applicable, there is a large amount of characters present here, as well as numerous occurrences and subplots, all of which are not precisely focused on the two main possible outcomes. Either Kathryn will win Sebastian's prized car or Sebastian will win Kathryn's physical willingness. Since these are cruel intentions, we really have no one moral enough to root for except Annette. The Caldwells do not contribute much to the real story here, acting as a subplot that drifts further and further from focus as the movie progresses into the third act.
The production is effective in its storytelling with many shapely characters and a risqué theme. However, when the persuasive story follows the effects of cupid's arrow on Sebastian, it turns from a devilishly intriguing tale into a misguided love saga. "Cruel Intentions" does a complete 180 degrees turn from appetizing seduction and cruelty to formulaic passion--losing most of its sense of style. Perhaps this is the only method director and writer Roger Kumble could conclude with this trashy of a plot. Even if that was the case, however, what is this film's climatic sequence trying to prove? Without giving the ending away, I will state that it is unpredictable, but also unsuccessful. The film concludes with more positive areas than negative, but with a second half like this, Roger Kumble truly must have had Cruel Intentions for teasing us with so much unrestrained allure--then holding out on us for a modern morality tale.
Brought to you by Columbia Pictures.