Though this movie was released in 1999, I happened to watch it at home, just a few days back.
Cruel Intentions is a remake of Les Liaisons Dangereuses a novel by Pierre Laclos first published in 1782. The movie is about a high school girl named Kathyrn (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), Annette (Reese Witherspoon) and Cecile (Selma Blair).
Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) are half-brother and sister living in Manhattan. Their parents are traveling in Europe and the wealthy duo is in the family penthouse by alone. They have no schedule on hand during their summer break before they begin their senior year at a private high school. Sebastian is the sexual terror of his prep school - he can have any girl he wants at will. Anyone with the exception of his stepsister, Kathryn, that is. Kathryn, who appears to be the good girl class president or rather Miss Perfect, is actually far more immoral and malicious than Sebastian, but maintains appearances to the contrary. She has a lot of dark secrets and Sebastian is the only one who knows them. After being dumped by her boyfriend, Court Reynolds (Charlie O’Connell), for the innocent Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair), she schemes revenge by destroying Cecile’s reputation. She challenges Sebastian to seduce Cecile and tarnish her character in order to humiliate Court. Being a simple girl, Cecile presents no challenge, so Sebastian isn’t that interested.
Now Annette has caught his attention and she happens to be the new headmaster’s daughter. Annette had written an article titled ‘Why I will wait’ (I am not to sure if the title s right), for Seventeen Magazine on her plans to stay a virgin until she finds her one and only true love. Kathryn makes a bet with Sebastian. If he fails to lure Annette into bed before the summer is over, Katherine gets his sports car. If he succeeds, he gets a night with her whom he wants anyway. Sebastian accepts the bet, but Annette turns out to be more than either of them bargained for. At first, Sebastian seems to have no opportunity, but, through a string of deceptions and manipulations, he softens Annette’s reserve.
And what follows is a tale of seduction and betrayal. I won’t give out the whole story in the review. Once you know the whole story then there’s no punch whilst watching the movie.
Annette (Reese) is refreshingly real, both in the way she talks and the way she reacts. She has a natural talent. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar are both attractive and they say their lines well, but there’s no more punch in there. The movie has a rating of “R”. It also has scenes of gay sex and a girl/girl kiss which leaves an unpleasant feeling. But on the whole the plot of the movie is interesting.
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Christine Baranski, Joshua Jackson
Director: Roger Kumble
Producer: Neal H. Moritz
Screenplay: Roger Kumble, suggested by ’’Les Liaisons Dangereuses’’ by Choderlos de Laclos
Cinematography: Theo Van de Sande
Music: Edward Shearmur